Question Brief – 12/4/25

Question: Is the United States a healthier nation than it was 10 years ago?

Thought Process: 

The United States is less healthy now than it was 10 years ago because mental health issues have increased, more people are using drugs, and obesity rates have risen. Poor lifestyle choices, social isolation, and environmental factors have worsened overall health.

1. Mental Health Decline
   1. Rates of anxiety and depression have increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise has been met with high demands that the healthcare system and school counseling services often can’t meet.
   2. Social isolation and increased social media use during the pandemic have also created lasting mental health challenges. Many teens and adults developed habits of constant online engagement, which can exacerbate stress, reduce face-to-face interactions, and lead to increased feelings of loneliness.
   3. Mental health disorders continue to affect large numbers of teens and adults, showing little sign of decline. The persistence of these disorders affects productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.
2. Increased Drug Use
   1. The use of recreational drugs like nicotine, vaping products, and legalized marijuana has risen. Marketing, cultural normalization, and easier access have contributed to a generation shift in increased use of substances. 
   2. More children under age 12 are reported as current illegal drug users. This early exposure increases the risk of addiction, developmental problems, and long-term health consequences.
   3. Drug-related deaths have increased and continue to grow annually. As synthetic rugs continue to be characterized as trends, it only shows the expanding nature of drug use.
3. Rising Obesity
   1. Obesity rates have climbed despite campaigns like the Hunger-Free Kids Act and anti-obesity initiatives. Access to high-calorie, processed foods and marketing of unhealthy products have limited these efforts.
   2. Poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and pandemic-era habits have worsened obesity trends. The growth of remote work, online schooling, and reduced physical activity since the lockdown continues to contribute to these behaviors. 
   3. Health promotion efforts have not fully countered these lifestyle and environmental factors. Structural barriers, from food deserts to the lack of safe exercise spaces, continue to make it difficult for many Americans to maintain a healthy lifestyle.