Pharmacists offer smoking cessation program to customers

Carlisle, PA

For customers who made the resolution to quit smoking, pharmacists at Giant Food Stores are available to help them achieve their goal. Pharmacists from five Giant stores recently completed a 3-hour certification program to help their customers quit smoking.

The program, which is a structured 5-step approach, is designed for the pharmacist to interact with the customer as they fill their prescriptions, or as the customer purchases smoking cessation aids. Once the customer has set a "quit date" the pharmacist will schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Based on the customer's tobacco use, other medications they are currently taking and their medical condition, the pharmacist will develop an individualized plan and help the customer select the smoking cessation aide that will work best for them.

After the customer has stopped smoking, the pharmacist will continue to conduct a series of follow up calls with the customer to keep them motivated, and assist with any side effect or issues that they need to work through.

The smoking cessation program is offered free of charge and is currently available at the following Giant locations:

539 N Oak Avenue, Aldan

3100 Tilghman Street, Allentown

3926 Linden Street, Bethlehem

310 E. Penn Drive, Enola

901 South West End Boulevard, Quakertown

Giant Food Stores, LLC, is a division of Ahold USA, and one of the leading supermarket chains in Pennsylvania. Giant currently oversees operations of stores in six states, 98 as Giant Food Stores, 155 as Tops Markets and 20 as Martins Food Markets, along with a 202 convenience store chain. Founded in 1923, Giant employs nearly 40,000 associates. For more information about Giant food Stores, visit the company's website at www.giantpa.com.