Ohio pharmacists to receive expanded nicotine cessation training with $48,500 state grant

The Ohio Pharmacists Association has received $48,500 from the Ohio Department of Health to expand nicotine cessation training for pharmacists and student pharmacists across Ohio. The funding will support an updated certificate program focused on counseling patients and connecting them with evidence-based treatment, with new training specifically addressing nicotine use during and around pregnancy and vaping among teenagers and young adults. The effort comes as Ohio's smoking and vaping rates outpace national figures: in 2023, 15% of Ohio adults reported currently smoking cigarettes compared with 11.4% nationally, nearly 19% of Ohio high school students reported using electronic vapor products, and 6.5% of Ohio mothers reported smoking during pregnancy. Maternal health is a key focus, as nicotine cessation during pregnancy can help prevent low birth weight, preterm birth and miscarriage, and staying tobacco-free after delivery reduces the risk of secondhand smoke exposure and sudden infant death syndrome. Pharmacists are well-positioned for these conversations because they see patients frequently and often without an appointment. Through the grant, OPA will update its accredited continuing education course, provide certificate training, create patient-facing materials and evaluate program outcomes. Thomas Bonifield, a pharmacist with Kettering Health Outpatient Pharmacies, said the training prepares pharmacists for moments that can come without warning, noting that these conversations often happen unexpectedly with only a brief opportunity to make a difference, which is why pharmacists need practical tools, treatment knowledge and empathy.

(Source：cleveland.com)