Online Program

Oral

In August 2008, San Francisco, CA became the first city in the U.S. to adopt a No Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies law. Walgreens, the nation’s largest pharmacy chain, and tobacco company Philip Morris each filed restraining order requests in attempts to prevent the implementation of the law. Courts denied both requests and allowed the law to go into effect as scheduled in October 2008. Boston, MA was the second city to adopt a tobacco-free pharmacy law in December 2008. Laws proliferated quickly in towns and cities throughout Massachusetts. After such massive activity at the local level, a statewide No Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies laws was introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature, which is moving forward as of May 2014. To date, at least 58 municipalities have similar laws. On February 5, 2014, CVS Caremark, the nations’ second-largest pharmacy chain, announced that it would cease the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products at all of its 7,600+ stores as of October 1, 2014 stating that the sale of tobacco was incompatible with being a health care retailer. CVS announced its policy change with the tag-line “CVS Quits for Good,” and says, “Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is simply the right thing to do for the good of our customers and our company. The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose – helping people on their path to better health.” This session will review current policy trends and share case stories from CA, MA, and CVS.

Session Objectives: Identify benefits of no tobacco sales in pharmacies. Explain the available policy options to achieving no tobacco sales in pharmacies. Describe the potential opposition to no tobacco sales in pharmacies laws and strategies to overcome such opposition.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)