TOPIC 1

  One of the risk factors  for an increase in cancer diagnoses is cigarette smoking. With so many negative effects of such a carcinogenic habit, one often wonders why they are even sold. Primary prevention provided by nurses is considered smoking prevention; that is preventing the public to even pick up that first cigarette. We may be seeing a change in the selling of tobacco products in the near future. CVS pharmacies discontinued tobacco sales effective October 1, 2014. The following is from an article in CNN Health (February, 2014):

"CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy in the United States based on total prescription revenue, according to the company. It operates more  than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide in addition to more than 800 MinuteClinics, which are medical clinics within the pharmacy locations" (Landau, 2014). This move is an important and bold effort to get the word out that, "blending providing health care and providing cigarettes just doesn't match," said Dr. Richard Wender, chief cancer control officer at the American Cancer Society. What are your thoughts on this?  What if other products are restricted such as alcohol?  Where is the line drawn in what is viewed as "healthy"?