The top public health concerns, according to Americans
Image: Getty
Yesterday, Axios/Ipsos published the latest installment of its American Health Index, which every few months asks 1,000+ US adults what they think is the biggest threat to American public health.
And in this go-round, gun violence rose by nine percentage-points from the previous survey in February, eclipsing the opioid crisis as Americansâ No. 1 public health concern.
The full results:
- Access to guns/firearms: 26%
- Opioids and fentanyl: 25%
- Obesity: 20%
- Covid, unsafe driving, alcohol abuse, and smoking (tied): Each came in at 3%, for a combined total of 12%
- Cancer: 8%
- Something else: 8%
đž Big picture: A record-high 48,000 Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2021, split roughly equally between homicides and suicides, per the latest available CDC data. But despite increasing fatalities, the rate of gun deaths in America â a stat that accounts for population size â came in below levels previously seen in the 1970s through 1990s.
Overall, the leading causes of death in the US last year were:
- Heart disease; 700,000 deaths
- Cancer; 608,000 deaths
- Unintentional injury (including drug overdoses and car accidents); 218,000 deaths
- Covid; 187,000 deaths
- Stroke; 163,000 deaths
đ Flash poll: In your opinion, whatâs currently the No. 1 threat to American public health?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that US public health policy as a whole needs a major reset, with the scientific community needing to figure a way to get through to a growing segment of the population that distrusts them.
- Others contend that the greatest threat to Americansâ public health is the ongoing degradation of US society as a whole, and Americans should take steps to address the situation at its root by preventing adverse experiences in childhood.
- âPublic health needs a resetâ âLeana S. Wen, WaPo
- âAmerican teens are unwell because American society is unwellâ âKate Woodsome, WaPo
- âCOVID-19 remains a profound health threat, and we should still act like it isâ âSan Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that US public health officials need to dial back their focus on ideology in favor of a commitment to facts and reason in order to address Americaâs many public health problems.
- Others contend that Americaâs current public health community lacks the credibility to determine â or treat â the biggest threats to Americansâ health after the recent Covid pandemic fiasco.
- âThe âHurtfulâ Idea of Scientific Meritâ âJerry A. Coyne and Anna I. Krylov, WSJ
- âPublic Health Inc. out to âslow the spreadâ of truth of its betrayalâ âNY Post Editorial Board
- âAmerica's COVID Response Was Based on Liesâ âScott W. Atlas, Hoover Institution
Share this!
Recent Discussion stories
Discussion
  | May 17, 2023The Biden familyâs finances are in the spotlight
đ° Last week, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee published a report detailing previously-undisclosed evidence that Joe Bidenâs family members, associates, and their related companies received over $10 million from foreign entities over a two-year period during and after Bidenâs term as vice president.
Discussion
  | May 15, 2023The state of abortion in America
đ On Saturday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed a bill that would ban most abortions in the state after 12 weeks, instead of the current 20-week limit.
Discussion
  | May 12, 2023The APA released its first social media handbook for teens
đđ± This week, the American Psychological Association published its first-ever health advisory regarding how to guide US children and teensâ use of social media. Dive deeper + see the 360° view.
You've made it this far...
Let's make our relationship official, no đ or elaborate proposal required. Learn and stay entertained, for free.đ
All of our news is 100% free and you can unsubscribe anytime; the quiz takes ~10 seconds to complete