FDA's morbid cigarette warnings

Do not be surprised when your favorite cigarette brand will looked similar to these
when FDA implements a bolder regulations on September 22, 2012

Starting today, November 12 until January 9, 2011, The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is accepting comments from anyone about the proposed bolder warnings and images on cigarettes that depict diseased and deceased patients associated with smoking. These graphical warnings, when implemented, shall become the first of its kind in 25 years and it shall take effect no later than September 22, 2012.
I am not going to deal with statistics on tobacco* here.  Because the issue, in my opinion is not whether we can stop FDA from implementing them because the agency will, or whether which pictures are appropriate for the campaign, but whether the proposed warnings can help improve the already stalled smoking rates in the US for the last 5 years.

Obviously, the government has NOT done a satisfactorily job in disseminating information on health risks associated with smoking and that is why FDA feels it needed a bolder approach. No, FDA is not imposing regulations NOT to smoke here, but simply promoting awareness why we should NOT smoke. But that choice depends entirely on you and me and the manner how we respond to health is all a matter of personal choice.

This image may be more appropriate for a contraceptive campaign, "Better blow than grow"

Now, if you disagree (or agree) with the FDA approach, you have the chance to officially comment on their proposals. These are the ways how to do it:

1. Visit www.regulations.gov and insert docket number FDA-2010-N-0568 into the “search” box and follow the prompts.
2. Send a fax, with your comments, to 301-827-6870.
3. Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions) to:  

         Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)

         Food and Drug Administration

         5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061

         Rockville, MD 20852

Note: All comments should be identified by Docket ID No. FDA-2010-N-0568. It is only necessary    to send one set of comments.

*Tobacco use, according to the federal government, causes 443,000 deaths in the United States each year and remains the leading cause of premature and preventable death nationwide. An estimated 30 percent of all cancer deaths are related to tobacco use, health officials say. In the United States, smokers number 46 million -- including 20.6 percent of adults and 19.5 percent of high school students, according to the federal government. According to WorldBank, the number of smokers is expected to reach about 1.6 billion by 2025. 

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