Syracuse Sun

The CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems at St. Joseph's Health has acknowledged the New York State Department of Health's Bureau of Tobacco Control for its 25 years of efforts in reducing tobacco-related harm and improving public health across the state. St. Joseph’s Health has been a partner in these initiatives since receiving its first tobacco grant in 2004, with operations briefly pausing during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021.

The New York State Tobacco Control Program has significantly decreased tobacco use through various policies and programs, achieving record-low smoking rates among adults and youth and nearly halving lung cancer death rates in the state.

"The Bureau of Tobacco Control’s commitment to protecting New Yorkers from the devastating effects of tobacco use has transformed lives and communities," stated Kristen Richardson, RN, CTTS, Director of the CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems at St. Joseph’s Health and Director of Tobacco Free Communities Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie. "We are honored to be part of this long-standing effort and remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that all residents, especially those in high-risk populations, have access to resources to quit smoking and live healthier lives."

As a grantee of the NYS Department of Health, the CNY Regional Center works across ten counties—Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Tioga—assisting healthcare organizations in implementing best practices for treating tobacco use and dependence. Another initiative funded by the DOH is Tobacco Free Communities Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie (TFC-DOS), which leads community-based strategies to prevent youth tobacco use and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

"New York State has been a national leader in tobacco control, from enacting groundbreaking policies like the Clean Indoor Air Act to ensuring comprehensive cessation support," added Richardson. "Our collective work has saved thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs, but we recognize that the fight against commercial tobacco and nicotine addiction is far from over."