Quitting smoking can save lots of money

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Americans who quit smoking can save $200 to nearly $1,000 a year depending on where they live and how much they smoke, a U.S. study says.

Smokers in Delaware stand to save the most cash by quitting because a pack of cigarettes costs about $5.39 there, a study by Forbes magazine found.

Delaware residents smoke more per-capita than in any other state, firing up just over 185 packs per year, Forbes.com reported Sunday. So Delawareans who give up the habit could save $998.23 every year.

In Utah, where smokers puff the least, averaging 33 packs per year, quitting can save about $150.85, the Web site reported.

Taxes on cigarettes have a direct effect on smoking rates, an expert said.

"Raising the cigarette tax is the simplest, fastest way to reduce smoking," said Eric Lindbloom, director for policy research at the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids. "There's an immediate response. People cut back more, they quit more, they call quit lines and buy nicotine-replacement therapy more. Every indicator shows that as the

price increases you end up with fewer people smoking."