However, more children are overweight than ever, the report found.

"Most people, about two-thirds, believe that crime is going up among America's children," said Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. "The picture painted by this report, based on actual data, paints the opposite picture."

According to the report released by the National Institutes of Health, the Census Bureau, and other agencies, victims reported 413,000 juvenile crimes in 2002, which translates into 17 violent crimes per 1,000 juveniles aged 12 to 17.

"This is a 67-percent drop from the 1993 high, and the lowest rate recorded since the national victimization survey began in 1973," the report stated.

The report also found that fewer children are being killed by guns. Last year, firearms were involved in 19 percent of deaths among 15- to 19-year-olds.

Exposure to secondhand smoke also fell, the report said, and fewer teens smoked. As recently as 1994, 88 percent of children ages 4 to 11 were exposed to secondhand smoke. The latest report found that rate had dropped to 64 percent.

Daily smoking by youth dropped to the lowest rate since 1975, and heavy drinking among teens also declined.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:
Comment: (limit 200 words)
Enter this word (help):	Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for all, please:

1. Keep it clean, courteous, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.
   
   
2. Do not post promotional links to organizations, products or services, or personal requests for assistance (get help).
   
   
3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.