ATLANTA - While 14 states and Washington, D.C., increased their cigarette taxes last year, not one of them used the proceeds to fund anti-smoking programs, Business Week reports. The findings were contained in a new report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"We know that increases in cigarette prices are one of our most effective and efficient strategies for both preventing youth initiating and helping young adults and other adults to quit smoking," said Terry Pechacek, the associate director for science at the CDC??s Office on Smoking and Health and contributor to the report.

Pechacek said that using cigarette tax money to fund tobacco prevention and control would decrease the number of people smoking.

Even though states aren??t using the funds from cigarette tax increases for their often-stated purposes, expect more states to look into tax hikes. Last week American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued a statement noting that the group, "applauds states that have raised their tobacco taxes and urges those that lag behind to take corrective action. While we urge all states to raise their tobacco taxes, we would especially encourage the 30 states and territories that currently have a cigarette tax below $1.50 per pack to consider the benefits of a cigarette tax increase of at least $1.00 per pack."

Currently, South Carolina boasts the lowest state excise tax on cigarettes at 7 cents per pack, while Rhode Island has the highest at $3.46 per pack.