Tobacco-Free Pharmacies: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Issues: Many people are surprised to learn that in United States and in many other parts of the world tobacco products are sold in pharmacies. Selling tobacco in pharmacies also contradicts the “Pharmacist Code of Ethics,” a code which clearly states that pharmacists must promote the good of every patient. This presentation provides effective strategies, including initiating legislative actions, to eliminate tobacco sales in pharmacies. Description: Our research methods included (1) analyzing case studies in public health and pharmacy professional journals, (2) interviewing stake holders via telephone and e-mail, (3) passing and implementing resolutions on tobacco free pharmacies through national, state and local pharmacy associations, (4) engaging interdisciplinary groups such as county and state tobacco control organizations with pharmacist involvement and (5) examining the role of pharmacists in tobacco control through smoking cessation projects. Lessons Learned: Educating and mobilizing pharmacists to take leadership roles in local tobacco-free pharmacy campaigns was an important factor. In extracting key strategies from successful tobacco free pharmacy campaigns in San Francisco, Boston, Massachusetts, and Richmond, California, we found that creative events, street fair surveys, public hearings in city councils and other media advocacy strategies increased public awareness and positive support. Recommendations: creative media advocacy, combined with research including economic data from other communities that addresses fears of business losses, and mobilization of independent pharmacists and advocates from other health disciplines, resulted in successful local legislation for tobacco-free pharmacies.