Starting on May 1, Tobacco Free Communities will operate out of three pharmacies in the Glamorgan Spring Bay area.

It comes after the Drug Education Network received funding from Healthy Tasmania to trial the program within one of the state’s communities. 

The University of Tasmania, Cancer Council Tasmania, and Royal Flying Doctor Service are partners in the initiative.

UTAS senior lecturer Dr Mai Frandsen said it represented a fresh approach to the issue.

“It’s quite novel in the way that not many people in Australia, or even internationally, have tried it,” she said.

“People who are interested in quitting within the area can go to their local pharmacy and receive additional support to what they usually would.

“It’s a very basic concept.”

The three-month program consists of seven pharmacy appointments, during which participants blow into a monitor to see how much carbon monoxide is in their system. 

If the reading is under four, the participants will be given a money voucher for a business in the area.

Drug Education Network educator Marion Hales said it was important the money from the program stayed in the community.

“There is definitely a community development aspect to this program,” she said. 

“It allows for more support networks to be built in the area.”

Dr Frandsen said participants would be entering into a “social contract” with other members of the community.

“It gives a sense of community ownership to an individual’s quit journey,” she said.

“If someone chooses a voucher for a cafe they know, then the person from the cafe can recognise what is going on in their life.”

Tobacco Free Communities will be available from Swansea, Triabunna and Bicheno pharmacies for five months.