Kroger Health Helps Smokers Kick the Habit
Bills in the Indiana General Assembly could change the legal age for buying cigarettes in the state. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce encourages legislators to support proposals that would reduce the state’s smoking rate. Kroger has a new program that could help Hoosiers kick the tobacco habit.
Smoking is the most common cause of preventable death in the United States. Studies from the Centers for Disease Control blame cigarettes for one in every five deaths in the United States. The C.D.C. says smoking – including secondhand smoke – kills more than 480,000 Americans every year.
Kroger pharmacists in Indiana are now able to provide tobacco cessation products along with lifestyle resources and behavioral support. The C.D.C. says the addiction is so powerful that tobacco users often fail in their first attempts to kick the habit. So, combining cessation options has proven to be more effective than either one alone.
Recent legislative changes enable Kroger pharmacists to present medications such as Zyban® and Chantix® in addition to a patient-specific plan to stop smoking. The program begins in a consultation with a pharmacist. A prescription may be provided, when appropriate, along with other therapeutic options. The service of a Kroger pharmacist includes a follow-up on the patient’s progress after the initial meeting. Many of the smoking cessation medications are available at a discounted rate through the Kroger Rx Savings Club, a membership program through the Kroger Family of Pharmacies.
“Many customers want to quit but don’t know where to start,” said Colleen Lindholz, President, Kroger Health. “Others have tried to quit but were unsuccessful. We want people to know they can come to our pharmacy and get assistance with what can often be a trying process. As a pharmacist who began my career in our stores, I’ve seen firsthand how much programs such as this can change people’s lives.”
Smoking cessation services are available at 114 Kroger pharmacies in Indiana. They will join colleagues at The Little Clinic in the ability to provide this type of care. “Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers,” said Colleen Juergensen, President, Kroger Central Division. “With tobacco cessation services, preparing prescriptions and offering vaccinations, our pharmacists and The Little Clinic are available to help our customers address an even wider array of healthcare needs.”
The Kroger family of companies has been serving communities large and small for more than 135 years. Kroger’s Central Division operates food stores, pharmacies and fuel centers primarily in Indiana and Illinois. We are dedicated to Kroger’s Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™ and create #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.
