Pharmacy Smoking Cessation ServicesContributing to Public Health

Sue SharpeChief Executive, PSNC (UK)

International Statistics

More than 1bn people smoke

Nearly 1 in 3 smokers live in China

Smoking causes 3 million deaths per year

By 2030 present trends would mean 10 million deaths per year

(Ref: UK Smoking Kills White Paper 1998)

UK Statistics

Tobacco causes 1/3 of all UK deaths fromcancer

Smoking costs the UK National Health Service £1.7bn each year

13% of 11-15 year olds smoke

Smoking Cessation is a major UK Public Health target

UK Reduction Targets 1998

Reducing children smoking from 13% in 1998 to 9% by2010

2002 – statistics show 10% smoking*

Reducing adult smoking from 28% to 24%2002 – statistics show 26% smoking*

Reducing smoking in pregnancy from 23% to 15%2001 – statistics show 19% smoking*

* NB Methodology changed

The Health Impact50 Year Study of Doctors who Smoke

! 1951-2001, 34,439 male doctors

! Non smokers lived on average 10 years more than smokers

! 1 in 4 persistent smokers die before 70

! Men who give up smoking before 30 have no reduced life expectancy

! Quit at 40 = + 9 years; Quit at 50 = + 6 years; Quit at 60 = + 3 years

(Ref: BMJ June 2004)

Do Smokers Want to Stop?

2002-3 68% smokers said they wanted to stop

Images from the UK Annual No Smoking Day(www.nosmokingday.org.uk)

Can Pharmacies Help Them?

Schemes using pharmacists counselling and NicotineReplacement Therapy (NRT)

Quit rate statistics

Pharmacy Smoking Cessation ServiceLambeth, Southwark & Lewisham

! Provided from community pharmacies

! Area of social deprivation

! One week free NRT

! 15 minute consultation

! 4 week follow-up

! Some clients had 3 additional consultations

Results

! June 2000 – 203 patients, 30% not smoking after 4 weeks

! Jan 2002 – 566 patients 241 (43%) not smoking after 4 weeks

More information in PSNC’sOnline Services Databasewww.PSNC.org.uk

Pharmacy Smoking Cessation ServiceCroydon

! Scheme running for 3 years

! 2004 – total in year of 1,082 4 week Quitters – target of 1,050

! One pharmacy reports 55% success in 4 week quit rates

Endorsement

ASH – Anti-smoking lobby group

“Faced with the harsh facts about the consequences of tobacco use, smokers are now more likely to seriously consider quitting. Fortunately there are now many sources of help available, so our advice to smokers is to speak to your GP or pharmacist about the best ways of quitting for good”

(www.ash.org.uk)

The Government

“To date, pharmacists have been a major untapped resource for health improvement. The track record of community pharmacists in areas such as stopping smoking, sexual health advice and substance misuse is evidence of how integral they are to tackling public health issues.

(www.doh.gov.uk June 2004)

Minister of State for Health Rosie Winterton said,

The Future: New National Contract

National Services! Recognition for Pharmacies Public Health Role

! Opportunistic Counselling

! Healthy Life Style Promotion

Local Services

! Nationally Specified and ‘Costed’ Smoking Cessation Service

! Locally Commissioned to meet patient need