YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The use of graphic images and warning messages on cigarette packs starting November 15 in Armenia will have a chilling and fearsome effect among smokers, says psychologist Karine Nalchajyan, however she doesn’t rule out the possibility of this practice to stop being considered and having the same effect after some time.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, she said the warning images won’t have effect on people who have psychological and physiological cigarette dependency. “It will cause alarm among some people, and for others it will help to quit the harmful habit”, she said.

Nalchajyan pointed out a quality, a characteristic typical to people, where they feel bad things happen to others.

Alexander Bazarchyan, director of the National Healthcare Institute of the Healthcare Ministry said the usage of graphic images and warning messages method is based on international experience. “It is being used in more than 40 countries around the world and it is a quite tested method”, Bazarchyan said, adding the method is also used in post-Soviet states.

The director mentioned more than 50% of smokers in Armenia are mainly males above the age of 16, which is rather a high indicator. “However compared to the 2000s, the number of smokers has decreased from 60% to 53%, but the fact this number remains on the same level is concerning”, he said.

3000-4000 people die each year in Armenia as result of smoking-related diseases.

Graphic images and warning messages against smoking will be used on cigarette packs in EEU member states from mid March. The images include human organs damaged by smoking.