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FAYETTEVILLE – Starting Monday, all hospitals in North Carolina are tobacco free. It’s the goal of a program created by N.C. Prevention Partners and the N.C. Hospital Association.

The program first started three years ago with a $600,000 grant from Duke Endowment.

Hospitals joining the program agree to make their campus 100 percent tobacco-free, including buildings, sidewalks and parking lots. Organizers say North Carolina now leads the nation in tobacco-free hospitals and will protect millions of patients, visitors and hospital employees from second-hand smoke.

North Carolina has been working on improving its tobacco policies. In its 2008 report card, the American Lung Association gave the state failing grades on its tobacco policies.

The Tar Heel State received an “F” in each of the organization’s four categories: tobacco prevention and control spending, smoke-free air, a cigarette tax and cessation coverage.

N.C. Prevention Partners recently announced a new $250,000 grant to create a program to help patients and employees at North Carolina hospitals quit using tobacco. Organizers say hospitals are a natural health leader in the community and can help people break the addiction to tobacco.