A little voice in the mind of local resident James Littleton for the past year has fervently urged him to kick his smoking habit. Yet with every trip to area convenience stores it seems he cannot resist the urge to satisfy his daily addiction.

"They are so addictive, and are so hard to get rid of," Littleton said. "People will do anything for them. I do not want to become one of those people, that's why I'm trying to stop; but it's so hard."

The voice in Littleton's mind likely has gotten louder. However it's not due to health reasons or scare tactics.

"I'm seeing my money go up in smoke," Littleton said, "it's beginning to cost too much for me to continue my smoking habit."

A 62-cent increase per pack of cigarettes by the federal government went into effect April 1. Congress approved the measure in February, boosting the federal tax per pack sold to $1.01 as a means to provide more low-income children with health insurance.

Less than a year ago, Littleton said he could purchase a pack of cigarettes for a little more than $3. However, the local man believes those days are long gone, buying a pack for close to $5 last week.

"Who would have ever thought prices would get this high? I sure didn't," Littleton said. "Maybe it's a sign that I need to stop."

Local cigarette vendors like convenience stores and gas stations have noticed a drop in their sales recently.

"We've definitely seen things slow down," said the manager of a Floyd Baker Boulevard convenience store. "A lot of customers are using their tax refunds to stock up (on cigarettes). But for the most part we're seeing more people simply wanting single cigarettes."

According to a 2007 Kaiser Family Foundation study, 1 in 4 South Carolinians smoke cigarettes. That number, already dropping due to the 62-cent federal tax increase per pack, may plummet further if state legislators have their way.

State representatives approved the third reading of a bill to increase South Carolina's cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack to generate $147.3 million it hopes to apply toward a health insurance program for low-income workers. A smaller portion of the money would fund smoking prevention and cessation programs, marketing South Carolina-grown crops and aiding farmers in surviving natural disasters.

A version of the bill is now on its way to the state Senate.

The Palmetto State's current tax per pack of cigarettes is 7 cents, lowest in the nation. If the bill goes through, the state would rank 40th in that category, tied with Idaho at 57 cents per pack.

"It really looks like (federal and state legislators) are trying to get people to stop smoking," said local resident Terry Johnson. "If people don't have the money to buy cigarettes, they have nothing else to do but quit."

"It's a mixed bag; you've got some good and bad at the same time," Littleton said. "The good thing is that people will stop, and likely more people will be saved from cancer and other diseases.

"But some need cigarettes, and will do anything to get them ... that's what I'm concerned about."

$$$ UP IN SMOKE

Federal cigarette tax increase of 62 cents per pack went into effect April 1, bringing total federal tax to $1.01 per pack.

State lawmakers are mulling a 50 cent-per-pack state tax increase.