KJ Mullins-Toronto: Health Canada has made sure that those who smoke have large warnings on their cigarette packages of the dangers associated with tobacco use. One of those images has a woman that looks like a zombie.

The new larger images that are on cigarette and little cigar packages in Canada warn those purchasing the products of the risks they take with each puff. The pictures are graphic and designed to make you think. They do the trick but one of the images targeted at youth resembles a female zombie. Does that mean if I smoke a cigarette I will turn into a flesh eater?

In reality that image warns of the changes a person’s appearance can undergo if they smoke. Smoking is known to premature age a person and have a negative impact on healing when it comes to wounds. There are more dangers of gum disease and oral cancer along with an increased risk for developing cataracts.

Still when I look at that one packaging image the message I come away with is smoking can lead to becoming a zombie.

Now the truth is no one’s goal in life is to become a member of the walking dead. It’s just not cool to have a craving for human brains. The television show The Walking Dead shows what happens to those pesky brain dead walkers. Is Health Canada really saying if you smoke then you are a zombie and the only cure is to blow your head off?

I don’t want to make light that the packaging carries an important message. It’s true that smoking is one of the dumbest habits out there. We smokers risk a multitude of diseases for our bad habit. It’s an addiction that is as hard to kick as heroin or cocaine.

On second thought maybe featuring zombie like photos isn’t such a bad idea. Maybe I am a smoking zombie.