NEW YORK CITY – A New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene survey released on June 13 has ignited Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden’s push to raise New York City’s cigarette excise tax, reports the Associated Press.

The survey found that the percentage of smokers in New York City who say they smoke cigarettes has slightly increased from 18.4 percent in 2004 to 18.9 percent in 2005.

The news source writes that smoking rates were “virtually unchanged for a decade” prior to the city adopting a $1.50 per pack cigarette excise tax increase in 2002 and banned smoking in most indoor public spaces in 2003. Prior to those changes, about 21.6 percent of New Yorkers reportedly smoked. (New York State assesses an additional excise tax of $1.50 per pack.)

“While most New Yorkers who have ever smoked have already quit, more than a million New Yorkers continue to smoke. It is now more critical than ever that New York State grant New York City the authority to raise the city's tobacco tax,” said Frieden, adding, “Taxation is, by far, the single most effective tool against smoking, which is still the leading epidemic of our time.” He added that a 50-cent per pack increase “could prevent nearly 10,000 premature deaths due to smoking in New York City.”

The AP reports that a proposal to increase New York City’s cigarette excise tax was introduced to the state legislature earlier this year.