Academic Pharmacy in Tobacco Cessation and Control

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Academic Pharmacy in Tobacco Cessation and Control

Tobacco use is a leading cause of death in the United States due to its adverse effects on human health. Health care practitioners have the responsibility and ability to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use significantly. Educating people on the dangers of smoking tobacco is a positive measure towards tobacco cessation. Quitting has positive effects on patients struggling with tobacco use, and clinicians play a significant role in assisting patients quit smoking tobacco.

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of death in the United States since it causes about 443,585 deaths every year. Tobacco use in America has been so prevalent such that, in the year 2010, the tobacco industry spent $8.5 billion promoting and advertising the product, an amount that surpassed the national budget for tobacco prevention. It is, therefore, a national concern to promote tobacco cessation since a majority of the adult smokers wants to quit smoking and some have even attempted to quit in the past. Pharmacists are the best-placed professionals to facilitate quitting by initiating the necessary efforts or complementing those initiated by other health providers. They can reach out to assist the marginalized groups that have a high prevalence for diseases associated with tobacco because their advice does not need medical insurance or appointment.

A guide provided by the US Public Health Service urges clinicians to incorporate the 5 A’s of tobacco cessation treatment intervention, which are:

• Advise tobacco users to quit
• Ask about tobacco use
• Assess readiness to quit
• Assist with quitting
• Arrange follow-up care (McBane et al. 5).

In addition, the guide also requires that staff and students in the health profession receive relevant training on effective strategies to facilitate tobacco cessation among the population. All health providers will also be required to have the minimum qualification to offer counseling on tobacco cessation to the users.

The American Association of Colleges of Pha.............