Press release from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System implemented a new VA policy on October 1, 2019 restricting the use of tobacco products and vaping on their properties, including Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville and its three Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Franklin, Hickory, and Rutherford County.
Although VA has historically permitted smoking in designated areas, growing evidence has shown that smoking and exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke create significant risks to an individual’s health. Accordingly, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has collaborated with key stakeholders to update and recertify the policy to be consistent with the department’s commitment to ensure the overall well-being of Veterans, employees, and the community at large.
“We are not alone in recognizing the importance of creating a smoke-free campus,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “As of 2014, 4,000 health care facilities and four national health care systems in the U.S. have implemented smoke-free grounds. This policy change coincides with additional VHA efforts to help us become the provider of choice for Veterans and the reason why Veterans will Choose VA.”
The new policy applies to smoke/smokeless tobacco and non-Federal Drug Administration approved electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including, but not limited to, e-cigarettes, vape pens, or e-cigars.
To learn more about health risks associated with smoking, visit the Surgeon General’s website at https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/tobacco/index.html or https://smokefree.gov/.
VHA has extensive resources and programs to assist Veterans in their smoke-free journeys. These can be found at https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/.
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