The United States didn’t make the grade this week, earning only a “D” on the American Health Foundation’s annual Report Card on Children’s Health.

Disturbing results of the study included an increase in teens’ use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

The basis of combating and preventing the problem lies in education. And it appears that an effective educational component is missing. Dr. Alan Leshner of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said, “There’s a decrease in the perception of risk, a lower level of understanding about the physical and emotional consequences.”

It’s ironic that the legislation being considered would eliminate the Department of Education, as well as cut the education budget, at a time when educating our youth about health issues is severely inadequate.

In the quest to balance the federal government, leaders tend to think only about long-term solutions, ignoring the country’s immediate needs. Although it is important to have a vision, the immediate need of better children’s health care is not one that will go away.

The United States, among the top countries in technological and military advances, should not be near-failing in children’s health care. Unless we become proactive in improving children’s health care through education, a failing grade is inevitable.