The Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA), which represents 1,200 independently owned community pharmacies across South Africa, has launched its first national Stoptober campaign. The campaign’s strategy is based on international findings indicating that achieving 28 consecutive smoke-free days makes an individual five times more likely to stop smoking permanently.

“For every two people that we help stop smoking, we save one life. So that is our target for this year, to save 600 lives,” said ICPA CEO Jackie Maiman.

The association calculates that assisting two individuals in quitting results in one life saved. The campaign is further supported by the deployment of pharmacists trained and accredited as stop smoking practitioners.

The organisation’s initial target for its inaugural drive is to save 600 lives. This figure is derived from the goal of having each of its 1,200 member pharmacies successfully help at least one person stop smoking, thereby utilising the community pharmacist network for a significant public health outcome.

The ICPA reaches smokers through a proactive strategy that involves media and routine in-pharmacy screening. Pharmacists are trained to use Very Brief Advice (VBA), which involves asking patients about their smoking status, advising them on quitting, and offering support if they express intent to stop.

The organisation’s initial target for its inaugural drive is to save 600 lives. Photo: Freepik

Participants are enrolled in an 8-Step plan that includes setting a quit date and reviewing monetary rewards, such as an estimated annual saving of R10,000 for a light smoker.

“So when you stop smoking, within 72 hours, the nicotine is out of your system, and then the withdrawal kicks in. And you can have anywhere from three to five urges a day where you really, really need a cigarette. 

“But those urges only last three minutes,” said Maimin.

Past attempts = learning experiences

Smokers who have previously attempted to quit are encouraged to view past attempts as learning experiences, noting that success often requires multiple attempts (around six or seven).

“Each time you try, and you weren’t successful, it’s not a failure. You can learn from that quit attempt, what worked, what didn’t work? Why did you stop smoking again? So use it as a learning opportunity,” said Maiman.

Participation in the Stoptober challenge is free of charge and requires only that the smoker visit an ICPA pharmacy to sign up.

OFM News/Refilwe Bekane and Eva Molekane mvh