Drugs, alcohol and suicides contribute to alarming drop in U.S. life expectancy


Living in cities designed for cars rather than pedestrians or cyclists is one of the reasons given for the drop in life expectancy.



"We are seeing an alarming increase in deaths from substance abuse and despair," said Steven Woolf at Virginia Commonwealth University, a co-author of the latest report. The idea of the "American Dream" is increasingly out of reach as social mobility declines and fewer children face a better future than their parents, he said.

The report found Americans have poorer health than other nations in many areas, including birth outcomes, injuries, homicides, adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Americans also engage in unhealthy or risky behaviors — such as high calorie intake, drug abuse and firearm ownership — live in cities designed for cars rather than pedestrians or cyclists, have weaker social welfare supports and lack universal health insurance. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

13 Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2022

BY  DEENA ROBINSON While the climate crisis has many factors that play a role in the exacerbation of the environment, there are some that warrant more attention than others. Here are some of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime, from deforestation and biodiversity loss to food waste and fast fashion. CLICK HERE Global Warming From Fossil Fuels Poor Governance Food Waste Biodiversity Loss Plastic Pollution Deforestation Air Pollution Melting Ice Caps and Sea Level Rise Ocean Acidification Agriculture Food and Water Insecurity Fast Fashion and Textile Waste Overfishing More Than 600 Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Join COP27  While Report Predicts Record Emissions in 2022
Read more

The Misinformation Crisis

Image
Social media has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we communicate and share information, but it has also had a crippling effect on our actions towards climate change. People are frozen in place, unsure of what the truth is anymore and reluctant to speak out or get involved for fear of offending someone or their peer group.  This inaction has led to a dangerous mindset that the climate crisis is "someone else's problem." However, the truth is that the water and food crisis is already upon us, toxic green algae is poisoning our lakes and streams, and our oceans are becoming plastic dumping grounds. If we, as individuals, don't start taking simple steps such as driving less, biking/walking more, and using reusable water bottles and shopping bags, we will continue to be pawns of mainstream media, big corporations, and corrupt politicians. It's time to take action and make a positive impact on our planet. Are you tired of wasting your time watching mindless commercial
Read more

MY TAKE: It's time to rethink how we elect our leaders

Image
It is no secret that politicians are often influenced by big businesses and their agendas. The sad truth is that they often prioritize their own interests over those of the people they represent. The media also plays a role in this corruption by pushing certain narratives and agendas that align with the interests of big businesses. As a result, the true issues facing our country are often overshadowed by irrelevant distractions. How about ALL MONEY out of politics Unfortunately, the recent political climate has only inflamed this issue. With the rise of politicians like Donald Trump, who prioritize sensationalism and lies over real issues, it has become even more difficult to have productive conversations about the problems our country faces. We must recognize the influence of big businesses on our political system and work to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. Only then can we hope to create a government that truly serves the needs of the people. It seems like everyone is
Read more