Children's Health

Mixed Report Card for Children's Health

Smoking and Alcohol

Levels of cotinine, a chemical released when the body breaks down nicotine, dropped significantly over the past 15 years, but more than one-half of children aged 4 to 11 still have detectable levels of cotinine.

In 1980, 21.6% of high school seniors smoked, but this number decreased to 12% in 2006. "That’s a significant change," Sondik says. "There was a smaller, but significant decline in alcohol use by 12th-graders over this period of time."

One in four 12th graders engaged in binge drinking in the last week, and 22% of 12th graders engaged in drug use in the last 30 days, the report shows. "These are really important figures, and while we have made progress, we have a considerable and continuing problem," he says.

Illicit drug use in the past 30 days remained stable from 2005 to 2006, according to the report. Eight percent of eighth graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 22% of 12th graders reported use in the past 30 days in 2006.

Overall Health

The report looked at 38 measures of children's overall health and well-being. Some other highlights include:

The rate of overweight children tripled over the past 25 years. From 1976 to 1980, 6% of children aged 6 to 17 were overweight. By contrast, this number rose to 18% in 2003-2004.

In 2005, 89% of 73.7 million kids had health insurance. This figure is down from 90% in 2004.

In 2005, 76% of children aged 2 to 17 visited a dentist, but just half of uninsured children saw their dentist.

Sixty percent of children lived in counties where concentrations of one or more air pollutants were above allowable levels in 2005.

More children are being read to by a family member today than a decade ago, but children who live below the poverty level are less likely to be read to than children in other households.

Math scores have improved consistently in grades four through eight since 1990.

In 2005, 69% of children completed high school. By contrast, 49% of kids completed high school in 1980.

"Overall, many of the indicators showed no change in the past year, but the real story is in the 10-year time trends," Sondik says.

This is the 10th annual report.