Morning Wire Adolescent Mortality Rates & Minority Contracting | 6.3.23
Jun 3, 2023
There's a troubling increase in adolescent mortality rates in the U.S., driven by factors like social media and mental health issues. Minority contracting policies are under scrutiny, revealing significant impacts on competition and taxpayer costs. In San Francisco, a new initiative aims to tackle homelessness, balancing police involvement with budget challenges. Amid rising numbers of homeless individuals, the city faces daunting hurdles like insufficient shelter beds. The conversation sheds light on crucial societal issues affecting communities today.
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Rising Adolescent Mortality
- Adolescent mortality is rising after 50 years of decline, primarily due to drug overdoses, homicides, car accidents, and suicides.
- Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for ages 18-45, and overdoses among adolescents have drastically increased.
Demographic Breakdown of Adolescent Deaths
- Drug overdose deaths among adolescents are disproportionately affecting white youth, while homicides are more prevalent among black youth.
- This demographic breakdown highlights the varying challenges faced by different groups.
Rising Depression Rates
- Depression diagnoses have risen to a record 29% of Americans, with the highest rates among young people and women.
- Factors like COVID lockdowns and social media are thought to contribute to this increase.