Americans are becoming better-behaved

Americans—that is, average Americans, not necessarily Hollywood stars, sports stars and the financial and governmental elite—are becoming better-behaved.

• Homicide rates are down.
• Domestic violence is down.
• Child abuse is down
• Cocaine use is down (although marijuana use is up)
• Alcoholism is down
• Drunk driving is down.
• Cigarette smoking is down.
• Illicit drug use by teenagers is down.
• Alcohol use by teenagers is down.
• Cigarette smoking by teenagers is down.
• Teenage pregnancy is down.

The main exception to these trends is that Americans are slower to get married than in the past and quicker to become divorced.  But maybe it is better to be unmarried or divorced than in a bad or abusive marriage.