NEW YORK STATE -- It looks like the higher cigarette tax is having its desired effect.

The New York health commissioner says more and more smokers are kicking the habit. The commissioner says calls to the state's smokers quit line quadrupled to 10,000 during the week of June 2nd. That's the week the tax on cigarettes jumped to $2.75 a pack. But it's not expected to stick. Health officials say the response was a knee jerk reaction and most smokers will start again.