Deaths of Despair: When the Soul of a Nation Grows Sick

[rangerrebew]

December 22, 2025
Deaths of Despair: When the Soul of a Nation Grows Sick
By Brian C. Joondeph, M.D.

America’s “deaths of despair” - fatalities from drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, and suicide - have climbed for more than two decades, reaching levels unseen in modern times.


The long-run trend is stark. After mid-century stability, the curve bends sharply upward after 2000, driven first by drugs and later joined by alcohol and suicide. The data, drawn from the Senate Joint Economic Committee’s “Long-Term Trends in Deaths of Despair” report shown below, are clear. The deeper question is why.
 

COVID made a bad situation worse. Lockdowns and restrictions stripped away social contact, church gatherings, family support, and purpose. Economic uncertainty due to rising inflation, erratic labor markets, and a government staggering under debt has pushed people further into anxiety.


During 2020 and 2021, overdoses and alcohol-related deaths surged, while depression and loneliness became near-universal.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/deaths_of_despair_when_the_soul_of_a_nation_grows_sick.html

[rangerrebew]

America’s “deaths of despair” - fatalities from drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, and suicide - have climbed for more than two decades, reaching levels unseen in modern times.

I disagree with the timing angle.  I say it started during the Viet Nam War.  A useless war, with no purpose except a treaty, that exposed masses of Americans to drugs and addictions which the soldiers coming home soon educated their friends with.  That war created no patriotism; men went over to be killed and maimed, and people spit on them for it.  Soon songs about how wonderful drugs were began to appear.  It was so divisive and that division continues to this day, especially in politics which oozes into everyone's life and leaves people feeling hopeless, powerless, and meaningless.

[DefiantMassRINO]

The social bifurcation of America began during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration - escalation of the VetNam War and the Great Society.

The Great Society created a permanent underclass dependent upon Government support.

The VietNam War created the following divides:

- Those with power, wealth, and influence got their "fortunate sons" into the National Guard or college.
- Those with College educations who got deferments and those without College educations that got drafted.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Administration is when the Great Schism in American society began.

[Fishrrman]

ranger wrote (thoughtfully):
"men went over to be killed and maimed, and people spit on them for it.  Soon songs about how wonderful drugs were began to appear.  It was so divisive and that division continues to this day, especially in politics which oozes into everyone's life and leaves people feeling hopeless, powerless, and meaningless."

Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll !!
... was more than a cry of exuberance.
It was... a STRATEGY.
And... it worked.