SIUE School of Pharmacy students participated in the Great American Smoke-Out Thu., Nov. 21 at Places for People in St. Louis, a non-profit mental health clinic. Six pharmacy students helped educate Places for People clients on the benefits of smoking cessation.
The Great American Smoke-Out event informed approximately 30 individuals about nicotine replacement therapies and tobacco/smoking risks. Participants were encouraged to take the pledge to quit smoking.
“It is incredibly important for student pharmacists to get involved in community service events such as the Great American Smoke-Out,” said Dr. Kelly Gable, SIUE associate professor of pharmacy practice and psychiatric clinical pharmacist at Places for People. “Adults living with serious mental illnesses die on average 25 years earlier than other Americans, largely due to treatable medical conditions. Quitting smoking can have a vital impact on the quality of life of these individuals.”
Oliver Mills, Gabrielle Spann, Cheyenne Newsome, Lauren Youngberg and Lauren Richards, all 2014 SIUE PharmD candidates, and Maggie Wong, PharmD, St. Elizabeth/SIUE PGY1 Resident, participated in the event.
The Great American Smoke-Out is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and is held annually on the third Thursday of November.