Missouri Criticized For Lack of Smoking Prevention Programs

A coalition of public health organizations has blasted Missouri and four other states for spending no public money on programs encouraging children not to smoke. The State Health Deparment gets some federal money for anti-youth-smoking efforts, but the Legislature has refused to provide any state money for the program. The criticism comes from a coalition that includes the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.