Taxes collected on cigarettes show a surprising spike in the sale of the tobacco products, an indication that smoking is on the rise in Maine.

According to Maine Revenue Services, taxes collected on cigarettes are up 5% since the start of the year, an "unheard of increase," MRS research director Mike Allen told Capitol News Service. Additionally, he noted taxes on cigarettes had been declining 1% or 2% annually for years, but showed a 1% increase from June 2009 to June 2010. "No one in the office could remember when we had an increase, year over year," he said.

 Anti-smoking advocates say the state needs to step up programs that discourage smoking, especially among teenagers. A January survey released by the American Lung Association's New England office showed smoking had risen from 14% to 18% among Maine teenagers.

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