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Deaths from road accidents and drug overdoses marked a dramatic increase in the United States during 2021.
A dramatic increase in deaths in road accidents and record number of drug overdoses. While the COVID-19 pandemic is still present, there are disturbing indications that more Americans are engaging in risky behaviors.
“There is a pandemic effect that is manifesting itself in the way we present ourselves at work, family, driving, and of course the decisions we make when we have the choice to consume substances that are harmful to our health,” said Jane Terry of the National Safety Council.
More than 38,000 people died in road accidents in the United States during the first year of the pandemic. This is the highest figure since 2007.
“We are seeing less use of seat belts and higher speed limits on the road. “We are seeing a greater use of substances that affect the way people drive and the risks they take when they are on the road,” said Shannon Frattaroli of the Center for Injury and Policy Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
The pandemic has increased job and economic insecurity for many Americans. It has also influenced interpersonal relationships.
“The ability to communicate and socialize with other people in a physical presence has been limited. “We have become more and more isolated,” said Frattaroli.
A record number of people, over 96 thousand, died from overdose in the United States in 2021. This is an increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year.
“We know that substance abuse increased during the pandemic. Many people use alcohol and drugs to cope with the stress we are experiencing. So some people already had problems before the pandemic, which got worse. “And then some people, who had no problems before, experienced such high levels of stress that they used substances to cope with it,” says psychologist Maria Espinola.
There are opportunities to find solutions to these problems. For example, the Center for the Study of Injuries and Policies at the University
Johns Hopkins says road traffic deaths can be mitigated if the money allocated to infrastructure is also used to address the causes of car drivers’ mistakes. For example, accident-prone four-way intersections can be replaced with rings to facilitate traffic.
When it comes to substance abuse, the National Security Council says American employers need to increase job benefits, including providing more treatment and recovery services from substance abuse. But, for now, this epidemic at this time of pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down./ VOA
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