ON THE STREET

The Southeast Missourian asked, "How would underage teen smoking be affected if the Food and Drug Administration were given the power to regulate nicotine as a drug?"

Chalanda Brown, Cairo, Ill.

"It isn't really going to do anything, because they are going to be out on the street pushing it like they are pushing everything else. Things are still going to be the same."

Coye Caid, Charleston

"I thing they would still smoke. I think that they'll just hide it out. They'll either get into their cars and drive somewhere during the lunch hour, or they'll get somebody else older to buy it for them."

Craig Goodson, Jackson

"I don't think it will change things too much. I think they'll still go ahead and smoke anyway."

Jennifer Davis, Chaffee

"It might slow it down, but it won't stop it."

Ralph Sharp, Cape Girardeau

"If the FDA gets control of tobacco products as a whole, not only will teen smoking be eliminated, but all smoking most likely will be eliminated, because their ultimate expressed goal is to regulate it as a drug, and as such it would most likely only be available by a prescription from a pharmacist."