United Health Foundation: Indiana’s health ranks in bottom half of US

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Indiana’s health ranking from the United Health Foundation has gone up for the first time in four years.

According to the United Health Foundation’s annual rankings, Indiana still ranks in the bottom half of the United States, at 39th.

To rank states, the foundation looks at drug abuse, obesity, access to healthcare, economy and environmental factors like air pollution.

The foundation says over the past five years, drug deaths have risen by 27 percent in Indiana.

It says Indiana’s strengths are high levels of high school graduation and low levels of preventable illnesses like Salmonella.

The reports says Indiana struggles with high levels of air pollution and a high rate of infant mortality.