Smoking-related diseases are preventable. Along with behavioral counseling, nicotine replacement therapies improve the chance for a successful attempt at quitting. Many of these nicotine replacement products are available without a prescription. Pharmacists are in a unique position to help decrease the number of smokers by encouraging smokers to quit. Once a patient has made the decision to quit, the pharmacist should discuss the physical and psychological effects of nicotine addiction and withdrawal and provide counseling on behavioral modifications and nicotine replacement products. Pharmacists can offer smoking cessation programs in their practice and will be rewarded for cost-effective management of smoking cessation.
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