Debating How Best To Stop Youth Smoking

Those who work with Missouri’s young people insist proper intervention can keep them from picking up the smoking habit. Teen smoking has the attention of state lawmakers, whether as part of a measure to crack down on youth smoking or as part of the debate on how best to use money from the national tobacco settlement. Members of Missouri 4-H and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri say peer pressure is perhaps the biggest factor in teen smoking. They want to see lawmakers consider intervention programs when they look at legislation on youth smoking.