Whitehorse pharmacy to stop selling cigarettes

From CBC News:
Yukon smokers are about to lose a popular supplier of cigarettes: the new owner of a prominent Whitehorse pharmacy says she'll be phasing out all tobacco sales by the end of this year.

Since taking over the Shoppers Drug Mart location on Main Street earlier in November, pharmacist and owner Tracey Keefer said she has been planning to get rid of cigarettes, which are currently for sale there.

"I don't think pharmacies should be selling cigarettes, if you're trying to promote healthiness," Keefer told CBC News, adding that tobacco sales are already banned from pharmacies in some other parts of Canada.

"We don't sell alcohol, we don't sell other … street drugs or anything here, so we're going to get rid of the cigarettes," she added. ...more

Pets’ medicine can be found at drug stores

From the Whitehorse (YT) Star:
Like fighting parents, pharmacies and veterinarian offices are arguing over money, and the customers are caught in the middle.

Pharmacies often sell the same prescription medications as veterinarian offices do, but for cheaper prices.

Veterinarians say they have to charge more for medication to cover the costs of running a business.

Customers are complaining their vets aren’t telling them they can get the same medications more cheaply at local drug stores.

One local pet owner told the Star this week she was outraged after she watched a recent CBC television show that explained veterinarians are charging more for medications, and not telling their customers. She said when her dog developed a cough last fall, the vet bills piled up. ...more

Be aware of cough syrup abuse, parents told

From the Whitehorse (YT) Star:
Porter Creek Secondary School’s drug awareness co-ordinator is warning parents to watch for any over-the-counter medications their kids are bringing home.

Doug Green began his three-year contract for the Canines for Safer Schools program in September.

During an interview Tuesday, he said it’s become clear there are students who are using high doses of what’s known as DXM, or dextromthorphan (the active ingredient in many cough syrups and cold medications), to get high.

“It was one of the first things that hit my radar when I came up here and it wasn’t exclusive to this school,” he said.

Already, he’s spoken to two students about using DXM, but Green stressed it’s not exclusive to Porter Creek Secondary School or even Whitehorse.

It’s an issue in many regions as Internet forums and web pages have sprung up on the subject.

Many of the pro-use sites include suggestions on how much to use to get high given a person’s weight, but don’t point to the negative effects which come with the drug use. ...more