AACR Commends CVS Caremark on Move to Stop Selling Tobacco Products

PHILADELPHIA — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) commends CVS Caremark Corp. for its visionary move to stop selling tobacco products in its stores. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States and is responsible for 30 percent of all cancer deaths.

“If we are to move forward as a society that promotes health and eradicates disease, we must take steps to eliminate the use of tobacco by all means possible,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. “The announcement by CVS Caremark Corp. to remove tobacco products from its stores is an extraordinary step that sends a critical message in helping to combat this enormous public health problem, which causes significant morbidity and mortality in many diseases, including 18 different types of cancer.

“All health care providers, including pharmacies, have a role in preventing tobacco use and encouraging current users to quit, and as the leading cancer research organization in the United States and other parts of the world, the AACR is thrilled that CVS is taking such a leadership position in this arena,” Foti continued.

For more information on the AACR’s work to eliminate tobacco-related death and disease, click here.

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