It’s a dubious honor, but drug abuse made the list. So did obesity, “sexting” and teen pregnancy. What kind of list is this, you ask? The fifth annual National Poll on Children’s Health.
Childhood obesity and drug abuse tied for first place on the recent Children's Health Issues Report, and sexting made its first appearance. Obesity and drug abuse made the list, because they were rated as a “big problem” by 33 percent of adults surveyed.
These aren’t the only issues worrying parents. Those same survey results revealed that 25 percent of adults rated smoking as a serious problem for children's health, and 24 percent rated teen pregnancy as a major concern. "Sexting," the practice of sending or receiving sexually explicit text messages or photos via cellphone, came in tenth with 20 percent of adults citing it as a concern.
While drug abuse is a perennial favorite on the list, the specific drugs and issues related to drug use among teens change from year to year.
“The perception of drug abuse as a big problem matches recent national data showing increasing use of marijuana and other drugs by U.S. teens,” Dr. Matthew Davis, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan and director of the National Poll on Children's Health, stated.
Other top concerns include alcohol use, stress and bullying. The poll, which was conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, asked a randomly selected group of adults that closely resembled the US population to rate 23 different health concerns for children living in their communities.
Address Drug Abuse Concerns at The Canyon
If you or someone you love needs treatment for drug abuse or addiction, call our toll-free helpline. We are here 24 hours a day to get you or your loved one the help needed for a happy, healthy and drug-free life.
