WOONSOCKET, R.I., Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly
published research from the CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) Research
Institute emphasizes the role a private retailer can play in
restricting access to tobacco and improving public health. The
study, published online today in the American Journal of Public
Health, showed that the Company's decision to remove tobacco
from all CVS Pharmacy stores reduced the number of cigarette
purchases across all retail settings with an even greater impact on
those who bought cigarettes exclusively at CVS Pharmacy. The
research confirms and expands upon initial impact data released on
the one-year anniversary of the Company's removal of cigarettes and
other tobacco products from its retail stores.
"When we removed tobacco from our shelves, a significant number
of our customers simply stopped buying – and hopefully smoking –
cigarettes altogether instead of just altering their cigarette
purchasing habits," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical
Officer of CVS Health and an author of the study. "This research
proves that our decision had a powerful public health impact by
disrupting access to cigarettes and helping more of our customers
on their path to better health."
The study assessed the impact of CVS Health's discontinuation of
tobacco sales by analyzing data from a nationally representative
survey of consumers' cigarette purchasing behavior at drug, food,
big box, dollar, convenience and gas station retailers prior to and
one year following the Company's decision. While the Company's
decision reduced cigarette purchases across all retail settings,
those who purchased cigarettes exclusively at CVS Pharmacy were 38
percent more likely to stop buying cigarettes, and those who
purchased three or more packs per month were more than twice as
likely to stop buying cigarettes altogether.
"CVS Health's decision to end tobacco sales has had a
substantial and measurable impact on improving our nation's
health," said Matthew L. Myers,
President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "These newly
published results make it increasingly untenable for responsible
retailers – especially those that provide health care services – to
continue selling tobacco products. We also urge parents and other
consumers concerned about health to patronize retailers that don't
sell tobacco products, such as those on our website,
www.ShopTobaccoFree.org."
Following CVS Health's decision to exit tobacco in 2014, the
company has extended its commitment to helping people lead
tobacco-free lives through increased smoking cessation resources
and a focus on youth tobacco use and prevention. In 2016, CVS
Health announced Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the first
tobacco-free generation. With support and funding through CVS
Health and the CVS Health Foundation, Be The First supports
comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy
behavior programming delivered in concert with a group of national
partner organizations.
"Tobacco use, especially among our youth, is one of the most
pressing public health issues that we face today," said
Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice
President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at
CVS Health, and President of the CVS Health Foundation. "While
smoking rates among children and adults have declined over the past
decade, approximately 36.5 million adults still smoke and 3,200
people under age 18 smoke their first cigarette every day. Reducing
tobacco use continues to be a public health priority, which we are
committed to addressing."
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and
mortality in the United States,
accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year, $170 billion in medical costs and $156 billion in lost productivity. For more
information on CVS Health's commitment to tobacco-free living,
visit www.CVSHealth.com/BeTheFirst.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on
their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail
locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading
pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a
dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one
million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services,
and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan,
the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage
health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique
integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better
health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more
information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at
https://www.cvshealth.com.
Contacts:
|
|
Christina
Beckerman
|
Mary
Alfieri
|
CVS
Health
|
CVS
Health
|
(401)
770-8868
|
(401)
770-8078
|
christina.beckerman@cvshealth.com
|
mary.alfieri@cvshealth.com
|
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvs-health-research-institute-study-confirms-that-the-companys-tobacco-removal-decision-reduced-cigarette-purchases-nationwide-300408882.html
SOURCE CVS Health