Updated program will address maternal health, youth vaping, and pharmacist-provided cessation care
The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has received a $48,500 award from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to expand nicotine cessation training for Ohio pharmacists and student pharmacists.
The funding will support an updated certificate program that prepares participants to counsel patients, facilitate access to evidence-based treatment, and provide services consistent with Ohio law and clinical best practices. New training will address nicotine use during and around pregnancy and vaping among adolescents and young adults.
In 2023, 15 percent of Ohio adults reported currently smoking cigarettes, compared with 11.4 percent nationally. That same year, 18.8 percent of Ohio high school students reported using electronic vapor products, and 6.5 percent of Ohio mothers reported smoking during pregnancy.
“Pharmacists see patients frequently, often without an appointment, which creates meaningful opportunities to begin conversations about nicotine cessation,” said Myriam Shaw Ojeda, PharmD, MPH, Director of Pharmacy Extension and Public Health Initiatives at OPA. “This award will prepare pharmacists and future pharmacists to recognize those moments, respond with compassion, and connect patients with evidence-based treatment. Even a brief conversation in a pharmacy can become the first step toward quitting.”
Maternal health will be an important focus of the expanded program.
“Nicotine cessation is critically important for expecting mothers and women planning a pregnancy because it can prevent serious risks, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and miscarriage,” said Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, PhD, MPH, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ohio Northern University’s Raabe College of Pharmacy. “Remaining tobacco-free after delivery also protects infants from secondhand smoke and reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.”
The program builds upon OPA’s previous nicotine cessation training, which has prepared pharmacists to identify opportunities for intervention and support patients through the challenges of quitting.
“OPA’s nicotine cessation training equipped me to empower patients to quit nicotine and improve their health,” said Thomas Bonifield, PharmD, RPh, Pharmacist with Kettering Health Outpatient Pharmacies. “These conversations often happen unexpectedly, with only a brief opportunity to make a difference. That is why pharmacists need to be prepared with practical tools, treatment knowledge, and empathy.”
Through the award, OPA will update its accredited continuing education course and pharmacist protocol template, provide certificate training for pharmacists and student pharmacists, create patient-facing materials, promote participation, and evaluate program outcomes.
By preparing both current and future pharmacists, OPA aims to expand access to compassionate, evidence-based nicotine cessation support throughout Ohio.
For information about the Nicotine Cessation program, contact Myriam at mshawojeda@ohiopharmacists.org.