Denver -- Smokers are about to get hit in the wallet as a new federal tax that covers cigarettes takes affect on April 1.

But many smokers are feeling the pinch of new federal taxes now.

Retailers said cigarette makers have already added .61 cents per pack and $6.10 per carton their costs, ahead of the new federal rate. The tax will help fund the Children's Health Insurance Program.

"It's very expensive. I need to quit," said Elizabeth Gill, a pack-a-day smoker. "I said I was going to quit when they went to $5 a pack. But they just jumped from $4 to $6."

Most smokers we talked with said the new taxes would be the last straw, causing them to quit.

"I made a decision to quit April 1. That's my goal. Hopefully I'm going to do it cold turkey," said Christine Arellano, a 19-year smoker.

Cigars will go up at least .40 cents a stick but hand-rolled tobacco will see the largest tax spike; going from roughly one dollar per pound to more than $20.

The cost, combined with the recession, is causing thousands of calls each week at the Colorado Quitline.

Colorado smokers trying to kick the habit are calling at 170 percent of the 2008 rate this week.

"There are more people wanting to quit and that's a good thing," said Douglas Olivas, counselor.

The state runs program offers free counseling and free nicotine patches.

Even with that help, the quitline sees a success rate for cigarette smokers trying to quit of just 37 percent.

Those who try to quit without help, they said, are successful only 3 to 5 percent of the time.

Calls are pouring in from all six states they counsel, including Montana, Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, and New Mexico.