Ethical Question

[DrugMan]

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hi Everybody 😀 ,

As future pharamcist, do you think that it is ethical to sell alcohol and tobacco products in pharamcies? I'm a pharm clerk at a major retail store and I find myself selling tobacco and alcohol products while despensing out Rx's pretty often. I'm under the impression that we should be running wellness centers that should help educate the public on prevention measures...not cater to the problem. Whats y'all outlook on this?

 

[imperial frog]

No problems with me.

 

[PharmDr.]

I agree with you. When I use to work retail, I would always think about ringing up their rx with their ciggs or alcohol. Pharmacies should be wellness centers. I think pharmacists should educate more to customers about cigg and alcohol use. Of course it would be optimistic to think that everyone is going to actually stop using these substances, but maybe it could make thier use less frequent. I personally would love for retail chains to stop selling alcohol and ciggs. I cant stand ciggarettes, they are soo gross and unhealthy. I find it hard to talk to people who smoke b/c they get very very defensive and they dont want to take my advice. I think someone respected like a pharmacist could spread the word much more effectivley and actually make a difference. Smokings effects on the body is totally preventable if you dont start smoking. So dont pick up one of those nasty cancer sticks. I dont understand this either, alcohol is legal? I am not totally anti-alcohol b/c getting drunk is just plain fun (im still young), but look at what it does. Long term use screws up the liver and drunk people are not always the nicest and safest. I dont get it, a person can go to a bar and get trashed(even though a bartender is supposed to stop serving drinks....yeah right.lol) and that very same person can hop in a car and drive home or wherever they end up. 😡 😡 Pretty scary. Anyways, what do you guys think about all this?

 

[BMBiology]

How it should be and how it actually is are 2 very different things. Pharmacists do not run the retails; the retails run the pharmacists.

 

[SomeGuy]

I suggest that pharmacists should be the ONLY ones allowed to sell cigarettes and alcohol. Think about it, they're responsible with who they give drugs to and how much. Making an extra buck isn't worth losing your license over. They're also everywhere. If you're not near one, there are already systems in place for you to get what you need.

From the Crazy-Sounding-Never-Work-In-Practice-Cool-In-Theory Aisle.

 

[imperial frog]

Hey...another FGCUer...got my masters there in 2000.

Like I said I've got no problems selling either. While it would be better if people didn't smoke, if they want to that's their perogative. As far as the alcohol, it sounds like you're assuming that every buyer is at an abuse level with it which isn't the case.

But think about this...these people buying the smokes and happy juice are still going to buy them from somewhere even if the retail pharmacies stop. Wouldn't it be better for them to perhaps buy them when they buy their prescriptions so that the opportunity for drug and alcohol/smoke interactions could be more effectively addressed? Since you're not going to curb smoking/drinking if you stop selling, you might as well make the best of the situation.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

At places like the Medicine Shoppe they don't carry cigarettes or candy, they focus solely on the patient's healthcare needs. Perhpas you'd enjoy a position with the Medicine Shoppe?

 

[npage148]

But inst alcohol benifical at 1-2 drinks a night? MY PK teacher told me that a glass of wine a night is as benifical to your heart as taking a statin. Im not sure if this is true, but its alot cheaper than taking lipitor and funner

 

[dgroulx]

But inst alcohol benifical at 1-2 drinks a night? MY PK teacher told me that a glass of wine a night is as benifical to your heart as taking a statin. Im not sure if this is true, but its alot cheaper than taking lipitor and funner

Having wine is beneficial because of flavinoids. You get the same thing from drinking grape juice, though. It has nothing to do with the alcohol. Certain teas are good, too.

It is nowhere near as effective as taking a statin. For example, I drink 1-2 glasses of red wine several times a week. My LDL was 193. Now I take 10mg Crestor and my LDL is 78.

 

[DrugMan]

I'm not anti-alcohol (i'm still young too) like I am with tobacco...but, the fact that I'm selling them out of the pharmacy is what really irks me. I see people ordering their advair discus with ciggs...it also doesn't help that we live in Cali where pollution plays a huge role in respiratory infections too.

 

[DownonthePharm]

These products are money makers for the pharmacys that carry them. A lot of people that dont frequent a pharmacy for drugs will stop by for ciggs or beer or condomns or whatnot. I dont have a problem selling these items, except perhaps if the person was already drunk (or a minor obviously). However I do have a question:

If someone comes to the counter to buy a prescription that you know will be bad with something else in their order are you allowed to tell them about it? Like say "hey mam you really shouldnt smoke while your on the patch"?

 

[PharmDr.]

Thats true that the retail chains are not run by pharmacists, so therefore it is all about racking in cash. Yes, not everyone who buys alcohol is going to abuse its use, but you can not predict who's actually going to get trashed or not. I realize not everything in this world is perfect, but we sure could put extra effort in..right? Ive also noticed how the Medicine Shop only sells drugs,compounds, and vitamins and such. I just dont like how pharmacies are a mini grocery store. The pharmacy should be the #1 priority in a CVS,Walgreens, not the weekly sale on 12 pack coke. It all boils down to money and convenience for the customer with these chains. Thats cool, theres another FGCUr on these boards. Its new and small, but it was ranked 11th in country for quality of education,price, etc. Its really starting to grow now though. Take care. <Jon

 

[DrugDealer]

Yeah, I always find it a bit contradictory and humorous when I ring up a pack of cigarettes. I work in the front-end, not the pharmacy, though, and we used to have this huge poster over the cigarette counter that said "We care about your health." What a great place to hang it.

What about selling cigarettes to an obviously pregnant person? I'm so uncomfortable with that, but my manager said we can't refuse the sale. I just give the customer really evil looks now and tell her I'm out of matches.

 

[bananaface]

You can always start sticking a tobacco quit hotline card on every pack you sell. hehe