VA St. Louis Health Care System

Larger Smoke Free Image

Dear Veteran:

As part of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ (VA) commitment to provide excellent health care to Veterans, the VA St. Louis Health Care System is proud to announce that we are joining all other VA Medical Centers across the country to implement a smoke-free policy for all Patients, Visitors, Vendors, Volunteers, Contractors and Employees. The policy covers all smoking material including but not limited to:

 

• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• Pipes
• any other combustion of tobacco
• non-Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes, vape pens, or e-cigars.

Beginning October 1, 2019, the VA St. Louis Health Care System will be a smoke free campus.

 Smoking will no longer be permitted on any VA St. Louis Health Care System campus. This includes CBOCs and all other VA St. Louis Health Care System leased properties.

• All smoking shelters will close.
• All smoking urns/ashtrays will be removed from all campuses and leased properties.

You are strongly encouraged to leave all smoking materials at home.

Although VA has historically permitted smoking in designated areas, there is growing evidence that smoking and exposure to second- and third-hand smoke creates significant medical and safety risks that interfere with a healing environment of care.

It’s never too late to quit smoking. If you would like help in quitting, please call our Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Services (HPDP) at 314-289-6503 to learn more about patient programming.

Thank you for serving our country and allowing us to care for you.