Pharmacists offer help to quit smoking

THE country’s 1,000-plus pharmacists are making a concerted effort in the week ahead to help smokers kick the habit.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) said pharmacies will resemble walk-in smoking cessation clinics in an initiative to coincide with Monday’s workplace smoking ban.

“We’re here to help,” said IPU president Richard Collis.

“Now that the ban on smoking in the workplace has arrived, it’s as good a time as any to set the date to quit for life.”

Fire chiefs yesterday urged hotel and guesthouse owners to be vigilant, especially as the legislation does not apply to smoking in hospitality sector bedrooms.

“Increased regulations in the area of fire safety have meant that fatal fires in hotels and guesthouses are very rare. However, now that bedrooms are the only part of hotels exempt from the ban, we are concerned there may be an increase in incidents,” said Chief Fire Officer’s Association spokesman Jim Dunphy.

Last year, domestic fires caused by cigarette smoking led to five deaths. “There is now a real danger of people taking refuge in a hotel room to have a smoke and, in the event of a fire, many lives could be put at risk,” said the Wicklow fire chief.

“On grounds of safety we would prefer if people were to refrain from smoking in bedrooms and this is advice we would give to people in their own homes as well.”

Meanwhile, the IPU’s Quit for Life public information campaign commences in community pharmacies on Monday. Pharmacists will offer advice and leaflets with practical tips on how to quit.

“As health professionals, pharmacists are not without sympathy for the smoker who wants to give up, but finds it difficult. If someone wants to stop, they should make the time to have a chat with their local pharmacist,” said Mr Collis.

The IPU say more than 60% of smokers have, at some stage, tried to quit.

“Our members, in recent months, have noticed a huge increase in the amount of people trying to quit,” said an IPU spokesperson, who said there was no quick-fix solution.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the British government to follow the Irish example.

BMA head of ethics and science Dr Vivienne Nathanson said: “The Irish government has shown real leadership in this area and we urge the UK government to do the same. At least 1,000 people die every year from second-hand smoke and the time for complacency is over.”

Deputy chairman of the BMA’s Board of Science and a consultant anaesthetist in the North Dr Peter Maguire said: “I for one will be crossing the Border to be able to have a drink in a smoke-free pub. I’m sure others will do the same.”