FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2014
Contact: Andy Fountain, (202) 735-0503

Research and Policy Advocates Call for Others to Follow Suit, Take Further Steps

WASHINGTON—CVS Pharmacy’s decision to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products is the kind of bold step that will make a positive difference for communities of color, says the Center for Global Policy Solutions.

“Ten million persons of color die each year from smoking,” said Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, President and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based think tank.  “African-American men are particularly hard hit with a lung cancer rate that is 50 percent higher than among white males.  For such a popular and ubiquitous chain to say, ‘We’re not going to contribute to that trend any longer’ is a daring decision and a responsible one.  I wish that more corporations were so conscientious as to choose the public good over profits.”

One of the largest drugstore chains in the country, CVS announced Wednesday that it would cease tobacco sales in its 7,600 stores nationwide because it wants to be known for its pharmaceutical and medical services and can no longer market products that are known to cause or aggravate so many serious, even life-threatening, conditions.

“Cigarettes and tobacco products have no place in a setting where health care is delivered,” explained CVS President Larry Merlo in making the announcement.

“We are hopeful that this is a game-changer,” Rockeymoore said of CVS’ decision. “And, while they’re at it, they might want to take a look at the sodas, chips and other foods that threaten our children’s health.  After all, obesity is another scourge that stalks communities of color at inordinate rates and runs up health care costs, while driving down quality of life and longevity.”

Well over one-third of Hispanic and African-American youths, ages 2-19, are overweight or obese.  In communities of color, obesity is the second leading preventable cause of chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, preceded only by smoking. Experts say lack of access to healthy food choices—a pernicious problem in communities of color—is a major contributor to the disturbing trend.

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The Center for Global Policy Solutions is a social change nonprofit dedicated to making policy work for people and their environments by advancing innovative and effective evidence-driven solutions to our world’s most critical challenges.