Smoking numbers no cause for celebration

Missouri’s Department of Health is pleased with new national figures showing teen smoking for last year was down, but it’s cautioning against getting too overjoyed. Department spokesman Gary Wilson says the numbers over the past decade show the teen smoking level is actually holding steady or even rising slightly. And he says there are still far too many pressures out there for youngsters to start smoking. Wilson says it’s important for health agencies, parents, and others to keep hammering away at the message that smoking is harmful.