Graphic Images on Cigarettes: What’s Wrong with this Picture?

August 28th, 2009. By AbiK

Here’s the question…

Smokers:

Will this picture make you stop buying and smoking cigarettes?

Some new federal regulations are in the pipeline for cigarette packs—graphic (and disturbing) pictures of what smoking can do to a body. Images of things like of throat cancer tumors…seriously discolored and decayed teeth…blackened lungs…tracheotomies. Apparently our friends north of the border already have similar programs in place and it’s been reported that these tactics actually work to deter folks from continuing the habit (healthfinder.gov 8/27/09).

The regulations would actually be part of the legislation that President Obama signed back in June with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The legislation gives the FDA authority to regulate how tobacco products are marketed.

Now, I don’t defend tobacco companies—but seriously. When and where do we draw the line on personal responsibility? I already went off on this topic when blogging about acetaminophen. And I can understand such measures when the dangers of something are not commonly known. But cigarettes?

If this were prior to the days of Jeffrey Wigand (aka the big-tobacco whistleblower Russell Crowe played in “The Insider“), ok. Folks were kept in the dark on the addictive nature of nicotine—and the tobacco companies knew this little tidbit yet kept pushing and promoting their cigarettes. But it’s 2009.

So I’m putting out an APB for anyone who does not know that cigarettes are harmful to let us know—write a comment, email, whatever. And then I want to know if there are any smokers out there who upon seeing some hideous image of a foot riddled with gangrene on their pack of cigs will quit smoking. My guess is, if you’re a “real” smoker, you’ll still be lighting up.

While we’re at it, if such regulation does work, why not move to beer and alcohol—think of the images that could be screened on a 6-pack of Bud. Or, given the ever-present news on obesity in this country, why not force potato chip manufacturers to include a picture of a gastric-bypass procedure or a clogged artery or just a pair of jeans splitting?

As a mother it bothers me to see a pregnant woman light up—or know that she may continue to provide her newborn child with a daily dose of second-hand smoke. And if a company is responsible for selling a product that kills people, they should be held accountable.

But I question the benefit (and cost involved) of putting gruesome images on packaging. And as to the argument that a 4-year old would see the pictures and know they’re “bad”—great. So he’s scared beyond belief thinking Mommy may be sick or dying. Oh, but he’ll know cigarettes are bad once he’s at an age to try them himself. I’m betting there’s more mileage with some age-appropriate messaging on the Webkins site…

Tags: tobacco

This was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Drugs/Medical . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.