/Portals/2/logos/cropped-607eacc5-38ec-42cb-872f-36aa64655d09-online logo.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 19 May 2013 21:59:39 GMT 15 By Maria Alvarez
Beginning June 22, 2012, adult and teenage smokers will begin to see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-required graphic warning labels on every cigarette package. The FDA is proposing that all cigarette packages and advertisements be required to use large, graphic health warnings showing the consequences of smoking. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act, signed by President Obama on June 22, 2010, demands that 50 percent of the each individual cigarette package present the graphic image on the front, side and back panels. The graphics are required to occupy 20 percent of space on advertisements. The former cigarette warning label, "Surgeon General’s Warning: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy," is scheduled to be replaced with the new health warnings by the end of June of 2012. The U.S. was the first country to require a warning label, however, 39 other countries have already implemented that graphic warning labels be shown on every cigarette package. Store owners are very unhappy about where the location of the new warning labels will be placed, considering most stores show the front or top panels of the package. "It may end up being that we stop carrying cigarettes," said Ben Blackman, manager of Georgetown Tobacco for the New York Times . Such an event would delight the FDA and public health officials. The whole purpose of the new labels is to encourage current smokers to quit and prevent non-smokers from trying. However, Ms. Crowe, Northwest High School Nurse, believes that with all the information we’ve been given as students since elementary school, the graphic labels won’t have an as much effect on teens as the FDA hopes for. Because nicotine is so addicting, I’m not sure it will help people who smoke to quit, but may prevent someone from starting" said Ms. Crowe. Northwest and The Caron Foundation, an agency from Montgomery County that offers alcohol and drug rehab assistance, offer the "Smoking Cessation," a small group that meets each spring, that students can sign up for. ]]> Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:59:42 GMT