
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992                   TAG: 9203190438
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STOP-SMOKING PATCH TOO EXPENSIVE

WHY DO THE pharmaceutical companies who came up with the "patch" for smokers who want to quit have such high prices on this most-wanted item?

I am a smoker who would love to stop, but because of many years of addiction to nicotine, it is very hard to give up this nasty habit. Because of the high price of the Nicoderm Patch and the Habitrol Patch, I can't afford either. My health (?) insurance at work (and from what I hear from many other people who would love to get this patch) will not pay one thin dime to help us smokers who want to quit, but need some help to do so.

Don't these health(?)-care providers realize it benefits not only the smoker, but also the non-smoker? Where are their heads? Probably in a cloud of smoke.

Come on down on the prices. Make a one-month supply cost the same as one or even two cartons of cigarettes, and I could darn near guarantee a large sale on the patches and possibly a smoke-free environment! CAROLYN SAUNDERS ROANOKE

by CNB