TAMPA, FL -- As our legislators examine how to cut spending and survive in this tough economy, a one dollar cigarette tax is being tossed around. The American Heart Association backs it, claiming it will help people quit. But not everyone agrees.
Valerie Shelter is lucky to be sitting at this desk working the day away. At 40, she had a heart attack. “I was dead for 10 minutes. They had to bring me back. The doctor now calls me his little miracle because he worked really, really hard to bring me back."
That near death experience was enough to make Valerie stop smoking cold turkey. She knows how hard it is to quit and believes a proposed increase in the state's cigarette tax might be the incentive people need.
"Senator Ted Deutch and Representative Jim Waldman are sponsoring legislation for an increase in the cigarette tax in state of Florida ." William Gower works at the local VA hospital and is a past regional president of The American Heart Association. He and the AHA support a one dollar tax increase to not only help with the state's budget deficit but to deter people from smoking or encourage them to quit. “Evidence indicates and research confirms that when states raise taxes on a pack of cigarettes, the number of people who smoke becomes less."
He says, for every 10 percent increase we experience a seven percent decrease in the smoking in youth and a 4 percent decrease in the overall smoking
population. But some smokers we talked with disagree with the idea of an additional cigarette tax.
Mike Cavallone, a Tampa resident, says, “I've been told the revenue is going to assist smokers in past in their health related issues. I don’t agree with that because smoking is a choice and we choose the consequences."
Jean Incerto says, “No, it’s not going to impact me. It might impact people thinking about starting. It might be cost prohibitive for them but not for the old time smokers.”
Valerie understands both sides. When she was a smoker, “I would be mad every time they raised the taxes on it but once you realize how bad and how unhealthy it is, it is good to get as many people as you can to stop. And if that's one way to get more people to stop, it’s a good thing. "
Right now it doesn't look like the tax proposal will come before the legislature during the special session. It may come up during the regular session later this year.
For more information:
www.AmericanHeart.org/smoking <http://www.AmericanHeart.org/smoking>
Smoking facts from The American Heart Association
One year after quitting: Risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by 50 percent.
Five to 15 years after quitting: The risk of stroke is similar to that of a nonsmoker. The risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat and esophagus lessens significantly.
Fifteen years after quitting: The additional risk of heart disease is the same as someone who never smoked.
People ages 60 to 64 who quit smoking are 10 percent less likely to die during the next 15 years than regular smokers.
The benefit is even greater for individuals who quit smoking before age 50. Their risk of dying in the next 15 years is half that of a person who smokes.
If you've had a heart attack and quit smoking, you can reduce your risk of recurrent heart attack or sudden cardiac death by as much as 50 percent.
