TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is calling on 40,000 inmates to quit smoking in this year’s national quit-to-win competition, which offers prizes to help participants kick the habit.

The biennial program, launched in 2002, combines incentives and encouragement to reduce smoking, including moving participants to smoke-free cells and increasing their visitation opportunities. Since its inception, smoking rates among inmates have fallen from 83% to 71%, with 8,293 individuals quitting, according to the Health Promotion Administration.

This year, the initiative introduces new rewards. Inmates who quit may win a top prize of NT$80,000 (US$2,521) through a raffle.

Other awards include one NT$30,000 prize and six NT$6,000 prizes. Officials aim to help at least 888 participants quit smoking.

Participants are invited to team up with a non-smoking friend or family member for the event, which runs from May 2 to May 29. They must remain completely tobacco-free for four consecutive weeks to qualify for the prize draw.

Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-Hsiang (莊人祥) said smoking is an addictive behavior, not just a habit. Inmates often relapse due to stress or peer pressure, but the program encourages personal commitment while offering support from non-smoking witnesses, family members, and group activities.

Over the 12 editions of the program, more than 250,000 participants have signed up to quit smoking. About 75% succeed during the competition, and of those, 35% remain smoke-free after one year.

Smoking can increase the risk of head and neck cancers, in addition to lung and cardiovascular diseases. In 2022, 400,000 of about 900,000 global head and neck cancer cases resulted in death, according to the WHO cancer observatory.