Pharmacists as health care professionals are dedicated to promoting health and healing. Yet, in California, approximately 95% of chain pharmacy retail outlets sell cigarettes, while at the same time sell non-prescription and prescription medications for smoking cessation and to treat diseases caused by cigarette smoking. This ethical dilemma facing pharmacists is a problem that occurs nationwide. Using internal tobacco industry documents, we will describe the relationships between tobacco companies and pharmacies. These documents describe the economics of selling cigarettes at pharmacy retail outlets. The documents also describe how tobacco companpies recruited pharmacies to oppose tobacco control legislation. We will examine the pending legislation in Massachusetts, which, if passed, would ban tobacco sales at pharmacies in that state. Education and mobilization of the Pharmacists' profession to take a proactive leadership role on this issue in the U.S. are necessary. We will examnine and discuss educational strategies and programs to address this problem.
Learning Objectives: See overall session
Keywords: Pharmacies, Tobacco Industry
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.