"some people are going to quit because of this action" - American Cancer Society
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"some people are going to quit because of this action" - American Cancer Society
Regardless of how people may feel about CVS in general, or their proposal to move to downtown, I think that their commitment to no longer sell tobacco is a courageous, progressive and positive action that deserves to be supported. I for one am going to practice 'retail democracy' and increase my shopping there, and email corporate headquarters, tell them that, and thank them. I encourage everyone to do likewise.
Regardless of their motives, (and I am sure they did their market research and determined that this step will not hurt the bottom line), they are doing the right thing. Caring for people with tobacco-related health problems costs the health industry in the US $96 billion annually, tobacco is the #1 most preventable health problem in the US, and 50% of those who continue to smoke will die of smoking-related illness. Any public health problem is affected in part by availability of the damaging agent, and with CVS being one of the largest drug store chains in the US, this action of theirs could quite likely reduce tobacco related death and disease.
Dave A, Substance Use Disorder Treatment Professional
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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:
Dave, it's nice to hear some sanity about the drug that kills far more than all the illegal drugs put together. I'm particularly interested to see that this comes from a drug treatment professional. I have an MA in Counseling and worked in Mental Health and Human Services for years, but always avoided drug treatment counseling because I couldn't stand to work in a program where people assume that a pot-smoker or acid-head has a drug problem while a cigarette smoker doesn't. Has the drug treatment industry caught up with reality, so that I might actually be comfortable working in such a program?
Incidentally, the last I knew, many mental health treatment programs were buying cigarettes and giving them to clients. Sometimes this was to bribe them into behaving, sometimes to keep them from getting worked up if they'd run out of ciggies, etc. When I worked at Creekside Mental Health in Santa Rosa, they put cigarettes in people's Xmas stockings--even people who had COPD! I watched one such guy gasping for breath in the hospital on his deathbed. When I objected to this practice, I was treated almost as if I were nuts; such was the corporate culture around smoking there. (I understand they have since ended this practice.) At the same time they were giving out cigarettes, they required clients who smoke pot to participate in 12-step programs. I also know that Sonoma County Mental Health's acute inpatient facility (AKA "Oakcrest" or "Norton") used to give out cigarettes to clients, as did at least one residential program run by Community Support Network. (I don't know if this practice continues there today.)
I have seen at least one County-employed psychiatrist direct staff to give cigarettes to agitated clients, in spite of the fact that there are other options and nicotine has never been approved for use in clinical treatment, for obvious reasons. I wonder how many taxpayers and insurance ratepayers would be pleased to know that their money buys cigarettes, purchased for mentally impaired people by those responsible for their health and well-being.
Hi Dave -:balance:Please reconsider. Please do not reward CVS for doing the right thing by no longer selling tobacco products. I am disappointed, in fact, that you apparently have continued to shop there. CVS is simply trying to gain expiation for their overall predatory company policies, with their push into small communities that do not want them and will suffer from the expansion of their presence.
Why not write them, thank them for the tobacco ban, and encourage them to further the good citizenship they've demonstrated by dropping their suit against the city of Sebastopol. The suit charges CVS's civil rights are being violated because the city has enacted a moratorium and will probably enact a ban on drive thrus. While your at it, tell them they can truly polish their image by withdrawing their application for the downtown store after which you will shop at the existing store on Gravenstein north to reward them for the no tobacco policy.
Thank you. Helen Shane for the Committee for Small Town Sebastopol
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Posted in reply to the post by daveabramson:
Dave, I agree that it is a step in the correct direction for CVS to stop selling tobacco. I support that decision wholeheartedly! Let's see how long it lasts though, as my bet is that they lose money on the decision.
Anyone who appreciates their decision might want to let them know too.
Those who are concerned about the lawsuit and plans to move downtown might also let them know about that. If you feel the need to not shop there, well, don't, but that shouldn't stop you from letting them know that you are happy about their decision to stop selling tobacco.
I find that they are more expensive than Longs was and do not carry the variety that Longs did, so that disappointed me after the change of ownership and I stopped shopping there very much. I'm not going to change my shopping habits because of their decision, but I will let them know that I am happy with their decision. I might even throw in a little line about leaving poor little ole Sebastopol alone.
Dave, could you please provide a link where we might all send our e-mails?
Thanks,
Tom
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Posted in reply to the post by daveabramson:
I have sent occasional emails to Merlo, CEO of CVS/Caremark and they've not bounced.Try this address:
[email protected]
I do encourage all to write to him.
:thumbsup:
Helen Shane
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Posted in reply to the post by tomcat:
I sent the email below to CVS CEO Larry Merlo at [email protected]
Helen asked me to post it on waccobb, so here it is:
Dear Mr. Merlo,
I wholeheartedly applaud CVS for deciding not to carry tobacco products. It shows real leadership and courage. I'd like to suggest you do the right thing in another area--by withdrawing the CVS lawsuit against Sebastopol and the CVS application for a new location in this town.
Sebastopol is trying hard to preserve its special small-town character. The proposed new location for CVS in Sebastopol would greatly increase traffic and congestion in the downtown area. I urge you withdraw your application for this new location. Sebastopol residents will then happily resume shopping at your existing store here, which many of us have been boycotting in protest over the new location application and the lawsuit.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
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Posted in reply to the post by Helen Shane: