Smoking cessation: pharmacists helping patients kick the habit

Nicotine is just as habit forming as "harder" drugs, and more deaths occur due to tobacco than other substances of abuse. Several treatments are available for pharmacists to recommend or dispense to patients attempting to stop smoking. The health benefits of quitting tobacco far outweigh the potential obstacles when beginning a smoking-cessation program. Pharmacists need to evaluate patients and their level of commitment to the program, provide education about behavioral modification, and follow-up with patients to support their efforts to quit smoking.