The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Session: Tobacco-Free Pharmacies: Using Ethics, Economics, Education, and Law to Achieve an Attainable Public Health Goal
4098.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM
Oral
Tobacco-Free Pharmacies: Using Ethics, Economics, Education, and Law to Achieve an Attainable Public Health Goal
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 many Canadian provinces tobacco products are not sold in pharmacies. So why, in the 21st Century, do the majority of US 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. 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.
Learning Objectives: We believe that there is growing momentum around this issue as evidenced by the academic literature, the activism around educating pharmacist, and the increase in activity around legislative bans in Massachusetts and California. The goal of this panel is to use our research and expertise to provide workable recommendations to pharmacists, health advocates, and policy makers about effective education efforts and viable legislative initiatives.
See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.
Organizer(s):Sarah Curi, JD
Moderator(s):Barry Bleidt, PhD, PharmD
12:30 PMPanelist
Anh Le
12:48 PMWithdrawn -- Panelist
Lisa A. Bero, PhD
1:06 PMPanelist
Christine Fenlon, Nancy Lewis, PHN
1:24 PMPanelist
Sarah Curi, JD, MPH
1:42 PMPanelist
Fred Mayer, MPH, RPh
Organized by:Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Endorsed by:Community Health Planning and Policy Development; Medical Care; Socialist Caucus
CE Credits:CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA