The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7492 p266
8 March 2008

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Pivotal role for pharmacists in helping smokers to break their habit

Pharmacists have a pivotal role to play in continuing to push messages about the dangers of smoking and helping smokers quit, according to a pharmacist involved in drawing up new smoking cessation guidance.

Ron Gould, a community and mental health pharmacist, was part of the group that developed the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on smoking cessation services (PJ, 1 March 2008, p238).

Speaking ahead of No Smoking Day on 12 March 2008, he told The Journal that pharmacists played a crucial part in generating initial support for smoke-free legislation. Pharmacists now need to make sure that they are at the fore of efforts to build on its successes and help more people quit, he said.

Smoking among pregnant women and around children is a particular concern, he stressed, so pharmacists need to make sure their services are accessible to and appropriate for pregnant women, and that could involve visiting women at home or other venues.

Pharmacists’ role in helping smokers to quit has also been stressed by the No Smoking Day charity that, this year, is challenging smokers to commit to a week without smoking, under the title “The great no smoking day challenge”.

Dan Tickle, chief executive of the charity, said: “Over a million smokers are expected to quit this No Smoking Day and need the help and support of their local pharmacy. …A poster in your window and leaflets on the counter can be a helpful reminder for the 75 per cent of smokers who want to quit.”

No Smoking Day materials can be downloaded and ordered from the No Smoking Day website. The website also includes a guide for pharmacies planning events for No Smoking Day.

The Department of Health has updated its best practice guidance for stop smoking services, which is available online