Mo. lawmakers to boost youth anti-tobacco spending

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Budget writers approve a fivehold increase in the amount of money going to Missouri's anti-tobacco efforts for young people.

This year, the state is spending less than $300,000 on programs intended to prevent youths from smoking. All of that money came from the federal government.

House and Senate budget negotiators agreed Monday to put an additional $1.5 million into Missouri's efforts against teen smoking next year.

State health director Jane Drummond describes that as a substantial step forward.

Missouri has ranked near the bottom nationally for the amount of money it spends on tobacco prevention programs.