TUCSON, Ariz. — An exhaustive new report on the state of health in the U.S. lists education and air pollution as major challenges facing Arizona.
The annual report from the United Health Foundation released Tuesday ranks states in dozens of categories, including environmental, public policy and clinical concerns.
The report offers some good news for Arizonans -- the state ranks 4th lowest in number of cancer deaths and 7th lowest in cardiovascular deaths. Child poverty also decreased 26 percent in Arizona since 2012, the report claims.
But the data also show some concerning trends -- Arizona ranks 48th in high school graduation rate, at 78 percent. The Grand Canyon State also ranks 49th in air pollution levels, 47th in public health funding and 47th in number of mental health providers.
Alarmingly, the report also notes a 53 percent spike in drug deaths since 2007.
Click here to see the full report for Arizona.
