Edition: August 2022

The AHS Index is a new way to look at data that illuminates a snapshot of our world today. It is intended to highlight health inequities and spark conversation, debate, outrage, and wonder.

Increase in opioid-related mortality rates in Alameda County between 2006 and 2020: 444%[1]

Increase in opioid overdoses in California during the COVID-19 lockdown: 72%[2]

Percentage of Americans who know someone who is or has been addicted to opioids: 43%[3]

Increase since 2005 in the number of teenagers who say it is a bad time to be growing up: 65%[4]

All-time views of a dog painting a flower to the tune of “Everything Sucks” on TikTok: 185.3 million[5]

Percentage of teens who believe it is likely that they will someday be famous: 19%[6]

Percentage of living people who are famous enough to have a Wikipedia page: .009%

Share of 13 to 17-year-olds who say they’re almost constantly online: 46%[7]

Number of states the CDC says have a severe shortage of child psychiatrists: 43[8]

Percentage of American adults who feel lonely frequently or almost all the time: 36%[9]

Increased google searches of “ayahuasca” since Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said an ayahuasca experience paved the way for the best season of his NFL career: 500%[10]

References:

  1. https://ac-hcsa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=9192fb945c664a2bba99c4203117081d
  2. https://oaklandside.org/2021/09/14/opioid-overdoses-are-up-posing-another-health-challenge-for-unhoused-people/
  3. https://today.yougov.com/topics/health/articles-reports/2022/05/18/opioid-addiction-yougov-poll-may-12-16-2022
  4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/may-7-june-15-2021-washington-post-ipsos-poll-of-teens/e33782f2-b8e5-45cd-9c8d-d1b13c117938/
  5. https://www.tiktok.com/@my_aussie_gal/video/6986336677748935942?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=6986336677748935942
  6. https://www.cnet.com/news/social-media/percentage-of-teens-who-say-theyre-almost-constantly-on-social-media-has-doubled-in-survey/
  7. https://www.milbank.org/publications/behavioral-health-integration-in-pediatric-primary-care-considerations-and-opportunities-for-policymakers-planners-and-providers/?utm_source=Milbank+Email+List&utm_campaign=09313671b3-New_Report_Behavioral_Health_Integration_3_15_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dbce9df54c-09313671b3-74927661
  8. https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america
  9. https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=%2Fm%2F0yll&geo=US