More People Try To Quit Smoking, One Year After Tennessee Enacts Ban

A year after Tennessee's ban on smoking in public places took affect, Doctors report an increase in people trying to quit.

The ban impacts most restaurants and office buildings.  Doctors say the law, by itself, didn't prompt anyone to kick the habit, but it did add to the list of reasons to quit.

The CDC reports nearly 57% of smokers in the state tried to stop smoking within the last year. 

Pulmonologist, Dr. Frederic Seifer says those wanting to quit need more than medication.  He suggests a program, similar to AA, to address the behavior aspect of nicotine addiction.  "You say to me Dr. Seifer will you help me quit smoking I say sure and I give you a prescription and say go out and take this medicine and quit smoking... Your chance of being smoke free at a year is less than 20%," says Dr. Seifer.

About 24% of Tennessee's population still smokes.