Among at-risk students, reading skills have been shown to be the best predictor of later successful adult adjustment. Nevada employers identify a lack of basic literacy skills as impacting the productivity of their companies. Teens who drop out of high school face enormous odds for achieving financial success in life. Nevada high school dropout rates ranks the state 20 th in the nation in graduation rates. Over 200,000 Nevada adults lack a high school diploma and school retention will continue to be a primary focus of educational efforts.
Alcohol continues to be the major drug of choice at all grade levels in Nevada.
Alcohol consumption is related to suicide, motor vehicle accidents, and violent behavior. Young men are especially at risk, for they are four times more likely to be murdered than young men in the next most industrialized nation and 40 times more likely than young men in Japan. Nevada, with the highest juvenile detention rate in the country, currently leads the nation in high school dropout rate and ranks eighth in teen violent death rate. The issue of teenage pregnancy deserves special attention. Nevada ranks among the top ten states with regard to the rate of teenage pregnancies.