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OPA Resources for Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is an area where pharmacists can make a huge impact. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. It causes 440,000 deaths each year with $96 billion in direct medical costs and $97 billion in lost productivity annually. Approximately 69% of smokers want to quit but quitting is difficult and it usually requires multiple attempts. Tobacco cessation counseling is consistently one of the most effective ways to help individuals quit. This is an area where pharmacists can take the lead and help patients.   

In order to help facilitate pharmacist-led interventions, OPA has provided you with the resources to educate patients on this important health issue. Recently, Smoking Cessation Tools have been published in the Resource Center of the OPA website. Developed by pharmacists, these resources will help you and your patients become educated on the importance of smoking cessation and will help you provide the support your patients need to quit. Pharmacists passionate about this topic have also formed a Smoking Cessation Working Group, which focuses on educating pharmacists and the public about how pharmacists can make an impact. If you are interested in this topic and would like to help the Smoking Cessation Working Group, please feel contact Aimee Wallace at awallace@ohiopharmacists.org.