Experience of pharmacist smokers could be valuable
Lloydspharmacy's 25-foot model cigarette |
Pharmacists’ own experience of nicotine addiction may help reduce
feelings of isolation among smokers hoping to quit, Lloydspharmacy pharmacy
director Andy Murdock believes.
Research by Lloyds-pharmacy, ahead of the introduction of the ban on
smoking in public places in England on 1 July, has found that about 3,800
pharmacists smoke. Of these, 57 per cent say that their credibility when
advising others on how best to quit is impeded not at all or only very
little.
Mr Murdock thinks that many smokers wanting to quit may be reassured
by the fact that smoking cessation professionals have had similar experiences
themselves. “Smokers may feel increasingly isolated when the ban
comes into effect,” he said. “People need to understand that
we are here to help them and that the experts are only human and may
have battled with nicotine addiction themselves and know how they feel.”
To promote its smoking cessation services ahead of the ban, Lloydspharmacy
will be taking a 25-foot model of a cigarette on a tour of England. Last
month a survey found that over a quarter of smokers intend to quit either
before the ban comes into effect or in the first year of its introduction. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader