Will Graphic Cigarette Warnings Work?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is confident the nine new graphic warning labels that will appear on cigarette packs next year will help smokers kick the habit and prevent kids from picking it up. 

The gruesome pictures, which will appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the nation by September 2012, give smokers a visual image of the health risks to add to the worded warnings.

Others aren't quite as sure they'll do the trick.

Dr. Nathan Pennell, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center, which has facilities at the , called the labels "a great idea," but doubts many people will quit smoking specifically because of them.

"Everyone who smokes already knows it is bad for them, but they think it couldn't happen to them or that they'll quit in the future," Pennell said.

If someone is already thinking about quitting, though, the pictures just might give him the extra push he needs.

"Being faced with the reality of smoking-related disease every single day may make it a little more immediate," Pennell added.

But will the warnings keep people from starting to smoke?

Doubtful, Pennell said. In fact, they could have the opposite effect.

"Most people who start smoking start as teenagers because of peer or other social pressures, and I can even see these being regarded as more edgy and dangerous because of how graphic the images are," he said.

 Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States, responsible for 443,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 The FDA picked the nine images from a pool of 36 after input from the tobacco industry, retailers, health professionals and individual consumers.

Each warning will include a smoking cessation phone number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which "will allow it to be seen at the time it is most relevant to smokers," an FDA news release said. 

"The introduction of these warnings is expected to have a significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy, and improved health status," the release said.

If nothing else, the FDA said the pictures will make sure every smoker knows about the health risks of lighting up.