When it Comes to Motivating a Person to Quit Smoking...

...money talks.

The idea that money could ever speak louder than the destruction and death that smoking causes as a motivational tool for smoking cessation seems crazy. For those of us who have spent years addicted to nicotine however, we understand all too well the sad reality of that crazy truth.

As smokers, we spend years telling ourselves that we'll quit next week, next month, by the end of the year...definitely before we do permanent damage. All the while, time goes by and we are no closer to quitting than we were last week, last month, or last year. Nicotine addiction has a way of overpowering better judgement and twisting an otherwise rational person's priorities out of whack.

The state of New York has set an example on aggressive anti-smoking policies and cigarette tax hikes that the rest of the nation would do well to follow. In June, the state levied a $1.25 tax hike on each and every pack of cigarettes sold, bringing the pack price up to a hefty $6-$10 U.S. dollars each.

• New York Cigarette Tax Now Highest in the Nation

And, it appears that their efforts are paying off. According to an article in the NY Times, New Yorkers have been seeking help to quit smoking in record numbers since the June tax increase.

• More NY Smokers Seek Quit Help Since Tax Hike - NY Times

With the state's public assistance that includes free nicotine patches and support counseling, the chances of success for those looking to quit has never been better.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States today, with cigarette smoking being directly linked to 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and 30 percent of heart disease deaths.

If you're still smoking, don't offer any more of your precious life over to a product that kills half of those who use it.

Quit smoking now.

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