Feb. 5, 2014
Please attribute the following to Texas
Medical Association President Stephen L. Brotherton, MD, in response to CVS
Caremark’s decision today to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products
in its stores by Oct. 1, 2014.
“Texas
physicians are thrilled by CVS Caremark’s decision today to stop selling
cigarettes and other tobacco products in its stores. We applaud CVS for taking
such a bold and courageous step. We agree with CVS that preventing tobacco use will
improve the health of Texans.
“Tobacco
is directly responsible for the death of 24,000 Texans each year, more than
homicide, HIV, suicide, influenza and pneumonia, accidents, and diabetes —
combined. As physicians we see the short- and long-term consequences of tobacco
for our patients and their families. Make no mistake about it — tobacco is
harmful.
“TMA
now challenges Walgreens and other large pharmacies in Texas to follow the
healthy example of CVS. It’s the right thing to do.”
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation,
representing more than 47,000 physician and medical student members. It is
located in Austin and has 112 component county medical societies around the
state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Pam Udall
phone:(512) 370-1382
cell: (512) 413-6807
Pam Udall
|
Contact: Brent Annear
phone: (512) 370-1381
cell: (512) 656-7320
Brent Annear
|
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Last Updated On
February 21, 2020
Originally Published On
February 05, 2014