On the calendar, today is set aside for celebrating our nation's emergence. To celebrate I plan to stay off the roads and as far away from fireworks as possible, although I will attend a neighborhood party where I will surely eat at least one Whoopie Pie. As for applauding America, it's a daunting task considering the following grim statistics:Addiction: 21 million Americans struggle with substance addictions, according to government findings. (That's more than the number of people who have all cancers combined.)
Suicides: 44,965 suicides were recorded by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics in 2016.
Homicide: In 2017 there were 5.3 murders per 100,000 people, according to the FBI.
Obesity: A grave public health threat, viewed by the medical community as more serious even than the opioid epidemic, 40% of Americans are grossly overweight.
Antidepressants: One in six Americans are dependent on antidepressant medications.
Anyway, do your part and have a Happy Independence Day!
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