A
recent study has found a surprising spike of mortality/death rates among white
middle-aged white Americans. This trend (which apparently does not affect those with college
degrees) is
not observed among other demographic groups or in other rich countries. The researchers attribute the surprising
loss of human life they uncovered mostly to rising suicide
rates and abuse of alcohol and drugs. Among
these,
heroin and prescription painkillers have been
particularly
destructive. Substance abuse, however, is generally increased
under conditions of chronic stress, and drugs have become more accessible as
their street price has dropped, so market forces over the last few years may
have a role, too. Of
course, all this is very sad news. Curiously, conservative
curmudgeon Edmund Burke once had some relevant premonitions.
Reflecting on the utopian project of the French
revolutionaries,
he sounded a cautionary note: “The effect of liberty to individuals is,
that they may do what they please: we ought to see what it will please them to
do, before we risk congratulations, which may soon be turned into complaints.”
