According to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), one of the most effective ways to prevent people from smoking, especially young people, and to help smokers quit is to increase taxes on tobacco. “For every 10 percent increase in the cost of cigarettes, it is estimated that there is a 7 percent decline in youth smoking and a 3 to 5 percent decline in overall cigarette consumption,” reports AACR.

That’s why on May 29, 2012, AACR announced its strong support of The California Cancer Research Act, also known as Proposition 29, which proposes a tax increase of $1 per pack of cigarettes sold in California.

Smoking cigarettes is the number one preventable cause of premature death in the United States. AACR reports that smoking causes at least 18 different types of cancer and is responsible for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths.

An interesting component of The California Cancer Research Act is that 60 percent of the proceeds gained from the cigarette tax increase will be invested in biomedical research to stimulate innovation in cancer research. “By supporting Proposition 29,” states the AACR, “voters can make California a model for the rest of the country and help bring us closer to a tobacco-free world.”

There are many methods that people can use to quit smoking. A study published in April 2012 demonstrated that acupuncture or hypnosis helped smokers kick the habit.