What does it take to prevent a person from buying a pack of smokes? It doesn't seem that banning cigarette commercials from television has done the job. Nor does it appear that ending the reign of ads like Joe the Camel has deterred younger people from taking up the habit. Could it be that slapping higher taxes on cigarettes makes a difference?

Currently 43 states have implemented a higher cigarette tax since 2002. The average amount of taxes went from just $0.43 per pack to $1.07. With every increase states have seen a decrease in younger people buying smokes. The higher taxes are giving the participating states more revenue to channel into health care a smoking prevention programs.

Just think if cigarette taxes were raised a bit more. What then? Fewer kids buying smokes and more revenue for health care? Sounds like a good thought to me.

Every year 4.5 million people die from smoking related to deaths. Of that staggering number nearly half of the deaths are in developing countries where medical care and health education are limited or non-existent. One of the fastest growing smoking populations is among teens in both rich and poor countries across the world. With the above statistics and the growing trend of younger smokers, the overall death toll for smokers could likely reach one billion before the end of the century.

Many governments are flummoxed by how exactly to handle this problem. Singapore, Australia and Thailand have implemented tougher anti-smoking campaigns and have found success in cutting the number of smokers within their borders. Other countries are hoping that drastic measures such as much higher taxes on cigarettes, a ban on public advertising and banning public smoking will help.

The concern for smoking related deaths has prompted representatives from nearly 150 countries to meet and discuss possible solutions to the problem. With so many minds mulling over the issues perhaps some solutions can be found.