An Observational Study of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Availability Through Pharmacist Prescribing in the California Central Valley
California’s Central Valley has high rates of tobacco product use and low rates of access to healthcare providers, making it difficult for residents to acquire effective tobacco cessation treatment. To address this disparity, California pharmacists can act as healthcare providers, with the ability to provide counseling and independently prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medications through a process known as “furnishing”.
In order to understand NRT furnishing practices among pharmacists in California’s Central Valley, researchers made contact with all corporate and independent pharmacies in 11 counties within the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Foothills to enquire about furnishing habits. Out of 586 pharmacies contacted, just five were confirmed to furnish NRT.