Cortlandt Manor, NY - With the New Year just around the corner, Hudson Valley Hospital Center (HVHC) is asking smokers to make quitting their New Year’s resolution.

Declaring the hospital a tobacco-free campus nearly six weeks ago, HVHC continues to support employees, and members of the community, with tobacco cessation programs to reinforce the message that quitting is possible.

Sara Oppenheim will host the Smoking Cessation Workshop every Thursday in January at 6 p.m. at the Dempsey House, 1992 Crompond Road, Cortlandt Manor. Each week, the group will work towards reaching that final goal with planning and interactive techniques to ensure the support needed. In addition, employees will receive reduced-priced patches, lozenges and nicotine gum.

Studies show that smoking is linked to coronary heart disease, emphysema and throat cancer as well as some other serious diseases such as leukemia, pneumonia and cancers of the cervix, kidneys, pancreas and stomach. About 46 million Americans smoke. The New York State Health Department has a public awareness campaign that offers help to smokers seeking to quit. To find out more about it, visit http://www.hvhc.org or http://www.nysmokefree.com.