NORWICH – In the ongoing battle to ward off the use of tobacco products, Smoke Free New York State is undertaking a new campaign to restrict the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies that sell them, including those in Chenango County.

The campaign, dubbed “Prescription for Change” by Tobacco Free NYS, targets the 52 percent of all pharmacies in the state that sell tobacco products. According to the organization’s website, tobacco sales in pharmacies raises ethical questions since tobacco is the only consumer product that can potentially kill at least one half of its long term users.

“What we are trying to do is educate the public, decision makers, stakeholders and local pharmacies about the message pharmacies are sending out,” explained James Mutabiilwa, coordinator for Tobacco Free Chenango. Mutabiilwa noted that only three pharmacies in the area currently sell tobacco products, two of which are the national drugstore chains in Greene and in Norwich.