Learning Objectives: Explain why and how tobacco companies targeted pharmacies to promote the sale of tobacco and prevent tobacco control legislation from being passed. Describe how the Pharmacist profession and consumer advocates can affect community norm changes through grass roots activities. Identify possible policy strategies that can be adopted in their community to eliminate the sale of tobacco in pharmacies.
Abstract: Audience: The panel is directed toward healthcare practitioners and tobacco control advocates who are developing strategies and possible legislative action to eliminate tobacco sales from pharmacies.
Key Points: In the United Kingdom, France, Italy and most Canadian provinces tobacco products are not sold in pharmacies. So why, in the 21st Century, do the majority of US chain pharmacies continue to sell tobacco-- the number one cause of preventable death? When tobacco is sold in pharmacies it legitimizes its use and sends the wrong message to youth. Pharmacists, as health care professionals, are dedicated to promoting health and healing. It is both a professional and ethical contradiction for Pharmacists to counsel patients, provide prescription drug therapy, and sell over-the-counter medicines, while profiting from the sale of tobacco products.
Educational Experience: Our experience with internal tobacco industry documents, law, merchant education, and mobilization of pharmacist demonstrates the importance of multiple interdisciplinary strategies in promoting tobacco free pharmacies and public health. Successful strategies will be shared.
Benefits: In order to eliminate tobacco sales in pharmacies, we must: understand the relationships between the tobacco companies and US pharmacy chains and the truth about the economics of selling cigarettes at pharmacies; examine educational strategies and consumer awareness campaigns; explore the necessary mobilization of Pharmacists to take a proactive leadership role on addressing this issue; and assess the pros and cons of legislative action to eliminate tobacco sales in pharmacies in the U.S.
Back to Tobacco-Free Pharmacies: Using Ethics, Economics, Education, and Law To Achieve a Public Health Goal
Back to Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs or Combined Strategies
Back to The 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health