Study: New Mexico youth have second-worst risk in U.S.

Youth in New Mexico are the second-worst at risk in the United States in 2024, according to a new study.

According to WalletHub.com, it compared all 50 dates and the District of Columbia across 15 key indicators of youth risk, ranging from the share of disconnected youth, labor force participation and poverty rates.

New Mexico ranked in these areas:

— Fifth in percentage of disconnected youth;

— First in percentage of youth without a high school diploma;

— Fourth in percentage of overweight or obese youth;

— Eighth in percentage of youth drug users;

— Sixth in youth labor force participation rate;

— Eighth in youth poverty rate;

— 15th in percentage of homeless youth.

The study noted 15.5% of New Mexico residents age 18 to 24 lack a high school diploma, which is the highest in the U.S.

“One reason why so many youth drop out of school in New Mexico is likely the fact that the state has poor performance overall when it comes to education. Only 13% of eighth graders in the state perform at or above proficiency level for math, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and only 18% do so for reading,” WalletHub reported.

“Many young adults in New Mexico are not doing well physically, either, as over 52% are overweight or obese, the fourth-highest rate in the nation.”

Only Louisiana ranked worse in the overall metric of risk factors.

In the top 10 of youth risk factors were West Virginia, Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Montana, Wyoming and Oregon.

Brenda Bishop of the Quay County Health Council suggested the data at New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey — at youthrisk.org — has more information, including at a county level.

“Stable home life, proper nutrition, feeling safe and positive role models are a few of the factors that help youth succeed in school and avoid risky or unhealthy behaviors,” Bishop stated in an email. “The Quay County Health Council is looking for evidence-based programs that can be implemented to help youth develop resiliency skills needed to reduce risky behavior.”

The state with the least youth risk was New Jersey, followed by New Hampshire, Illinois, Iowa and Virginia.

WalletHub gathered its data as of June 26 from several federal agencies, the Nation’s Report Card, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, John Burton Advocates for Youth and the National Center for Juvenile Justice.