Opinion: Deaths of despair can be prevented with a comprehensive strategy
The U.S. needs a comprehensive strategy to stem the rising tide of suicide, drug-related deaths, and other deaths of despair.
Far too many Americans are dying from preventable causes, and each time we make progress it seems like new problems appear. Take the case of opioid overdoses. As we are beginning to get a handle on misuse of prescription opioids, fentanyl and synthetic opioids have come to the fore. Two decades ago, they were linked to fewer than 1,000 deaths each year. In 2017, fentanyl and synthetic opioids killed more than 28,000 Americans.
The emphasis on opioids is appropriate, but too narrow. The underlying conditions that often lead to drug misuse can also lead to alcohol misuse, loneliness, and despair. Even
