LEWISTON – Healthy Androscoggin, on Thursday, Jan. 10, will host a presentation by pharmacist, Phil Rioux, who will discuss the medication options to assist in becoming tobacco-free in 2008.

Rioux will discuss the benefits of using medications to help with nicotine dependence. His discussion will include the side effects, costs, how the medication works, whether a prescription is needed and the Maine Tobacco Helpline free nicotine replacement program for those without insurance coverage.

Rioux will also discuss the pros and cons of using the newest medication for nicotine dependence, Chantix.

The discussion will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, 99 Campus Ave.

Rioux is director of pharmacy at Central Maine Medical Center. He also served in that capacity at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center for nine years. Among his other achievements are serving on the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice board of directors for five years, which included a term as the president of the board. He was also at the Medicine Shoppe for more than six years.

The discussion is free and open to anyone who is thinking about becoming tobacco-free. No preregistration is required. For more information, call Wendy Tardif at Healthy Androscoggin, 795-5792.