A 75 cent tax increase now brings the taxes on a pack of cigarettes to more than $2.50 in Wisconsin.

The tax hike went into effect Tuesday and a registered nurse at Aspirus Wausau Hospital says every time the price goes up, they see an increase in people wanting to quit.

Every patient admitted to Aspirus Wausau Hospital is given information to encourage them not to smoke. "If they use tobacco products, they are advised to quit because it's been proven the more times they are asked to quit by a healthcare provider, they are more likely to attempt to quit," says Betty MacIntosh, RN.

The nurse says on average, it takes 5 to 7 attempts before someone can permanantly extinguish their habit. She suggests using the state's quit line, which provides free resources to help you get started.

"They also have medications available to them they can get through the tobacco quitline. They can get two weeks free and counseling is also free through the tobacco quitline," says MacIntosh.

Another alternative is hypnosis.

Roger Literski says he's helped thousands quit during his 28 years as a certified hypnotist. He says the patient is awake during the entire process and describes it as behavior modification.

He says his four session visualization and imagery program has a 93 percent success rate.

"As the days go on, they listen to the reinforcement CD. That's when the process begins and the healing takes place, and over the course of four weeks they will become a permanent non smoker," says Literski.

No matter what method you choose to kick butt, both agree the decision can add years to your life. MacIntosh says smoking accounts for 14 percent of the deaths in Marathon County every year.