1 in 3 U.S. adults have 'debt in collections'

Count the next three people you see. Chances are, one of them is deeply in debt.
 
According to a study released Monday by the Urban Institute, roughly one in three adults with a credit history have fallen far enough behind in paying down non-mortgage debt that the account has gone to "collections," reports CNNMoney.
 
That's an estimated 77 million people wrestling with an average unpaid debt of $5,200. Folks in Nevada fared the worst, with 47 percent of residents having more than $7,000 owed on average. North Dakota residents ranked the lowest; only 19 percent have debts in collection. Missouri ranks in the middle, with approximately 35 percent of residents owing between $5,500 to $8,000, according to the UI report.

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