A report finds that while New Hampshire is second in the nation in child wellbeing, it’s among the worst states when it comes to teen substance abuse.
In the annual Kids Count report, the Granite State ranked second behind Minnesota when using factors such as economic wellbeing, education, and health.
The report found 10 percent of New Hampshire children were living in poverty in 2013, down from 16 percent the year before.
But it also found New Hampshire was tied with six other states for the highest rate of teens abusing drugs and alcohol.
New Hampshire Kids Count Executive Director Ellen Fineberg says that’s cause for concern.
"This state is not investing in prevention and treatment the way it should be," she said. "New Hampshire has the lowest investment in prevention and treatment of any state in New England."
The report, compiled annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, also found the number of Granite State children living in high-poverty areas doubled in one year, but that fewer children are living in households with a high housing cost burden.
