Indiana Health Commissioner Judy Monroe says that smoking has declined 17.8 percent in the year since the state raised its cigarette tax by 44 cents per pack, the Associated Press reported June 2.

Indiana now tacks on about $1 per pack in cigarette taxes; the tax increase went into effect last July 1. Since that time, more than 6,500 people have called the Indiana Tobacco Quitline.

The state also is running a quit-smoking contest with a top prize of $2,500.