The five Community Pharmacies in Fall River have each chosen to not sell tobacco products as part of their commitment to the health of their customers. "It doesn't make much sense to sell products designed to promote a person's health and then turn around and sell something that results in all kinds of illnesses," stated Tom Pasternak, R.Ph., owner of Walsh's Pharmacy at 202 Rock Street. Tom also serves as Vice-Chairman of the B.O.L.D. substance abuse coalition which also addresses tobacco use. The five independent pharmacies focus on providing prescription medications and other health-care products. "We don't get into the beach balls and other products that the big chains sell," quipped Gordon Ashworth, R.Ph., owner of the Prescription Center on Robeson Street. "Not selling tobacco products just makes sense to us," noted Tom Cory at Standard Pharmacy on East Main Street. Carol DeVillers, R.Ph. of deVillers Pharmacy on Rodman Street and Carol McShane, R.Ph., who operates the Health Care Pharmacy in the Truesdale Clinic on President Avenue point out that they do help people find cessation products that can help them stop smoking, such as the very effective Chantix medication which is now fully covered by MassHealth.
 

(Top row, left and center) Tom Pasternak of Walsh Pharmacy. (Top row, right) Gordon Ashworth of the Prescription Center. (Bottom row, left) Tom Cory of Standard Pharmacy. (Bottom row, center) Carol deVillers of deVillers' Pharmacy. (Bottom row, right) Carol McShane and Melissa Lopes of the Truesdale Clinic pharmacy.