Young Australians smoking less

A new portrait of young Australians shows they are better educated and smoking less than they were, but it shows also that they are increasingly overweight, using illicit drugs and drinking at risky levels, according to a story by Rachel Browne for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Public health pioneer, Fiona Stanley, described the report, The Wellbeing of Young Australians, as a ”wake-up call” for the nation.

The report, which was due to be released by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth in Canberra today, compares how Australia ranks against other developed countries in respect of young people.

Young Australians, it says, rank in the top third of OECD countries in tertiary qualifications, low smoking rates and community participation.

But they are only in the middle band when it comes to teen pregnancy, dental decay, overweight and obesity, youth suicide and cannabis use.

And Australia is in the bottom third of countries when it comes to child abuse deaths, infant mortality, preschool participation and income equality.