St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center is now “tobacco free. “ This means all buildings and properties that are owned and/or leased by St. Joseph's and its affiliates throughout Central New York are ” tobacco free.” St. Joseph's joins more than 80 other hospitals and health centers in New York State that have taken action to help make their communities healthier places in which to live and work.

Tobacco use is the number one cause of premature death in this country. Each year more than 400,000 people die as a result of direct tobacco use. In a 2006 report the U.S. Surgeon General stated that thousands of people a year die from the effects of second hand smoke. A recent report from Stanford University has shown that “ …being within a few feet of a smoker outdoors may expose you to air pollution levels that are comparable, on average, to indoor levels that we measured in previous studies of homes and taverns.” St. Joseph's has taken this action because it is the right thing to do.

In a recent survey, 85 percent of Onondaga County residents who responded said that they think that smoking and tobacco use should not be permitted on or near a hospital or health care facility. More than 77 percent of survey responders who said they were current smokers agreed.

We are not asking patients, visitors and employees to stop smoking, although we would be happy to help you stop, if you so desire. We will ask you to help us to meet our stated mission of improving the health of our community by not using tobacco products when you come for services, to work, or to visit.

For more information on how this new health initiative affects you, or for more information, please click on the topics that are listed on the side of the page.