There are growing concerns about mental health issues, including suicide and substance abuse, among the millennial generation born at the start of the 1980s. Facing economic upheaval in the post 9/11 years, and now weathering the global corona virus pandemic and job losses, the Millennials face increasing stress, anxiety and despair, with a resulting 20 percent spike in mortality rates since 2008 for those ages 20 to 34.
Drug-related deaths for this age group more than doubled from 2007 to 2017, while alcohol-related deaths rose by 69 percent and suicides by 35 percent. The uptick is particularly pronounced for young people with less education, who face more financial strain and unemployment with the decline of manufacturing, leading to what is known as “deaths of despair.”
Meanwhile, as debate rages about much-needed criminal justice reform, some Congressional Democrats argue that nationwide marijuana legalization should be on the agenda. The lawmakers believe that eliminating the prohibition on cannabis—and the selective enforcement of cannabis laws in communities of color—would be an important step to promote racial justice. While decriminalization of pot is a sensible goal, the representatives fail to mention the health risks and dangers posed by marijuana to all communities.
And finally, police in Detroit have busted a $41 million opioid ring involving doctors, nurses and pharmacists who had distributed nearly 2 million prescription pain pills. Despite a crackdown on such practices, and increased prescription drug monitoring, the criminal dealings that fueled the national opioid epidemic are still operating—and contributing to the ongoing drug crisis.