Substance Abuse, Sexuality, and Suicide: The Three Canaries in the Cage – Patrick Carnes

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The longevity statistics of Americans have declined by almost ten years. We now live on the average of 69 versus 78. Other, wealthy, developed countries continue in an upward trajectory in how long they live far exceeding US citizens. Three issues including Substance Abuse, Sexuality, and Suicide may provide important insights into our nation’s number one public health problem: a culture of addiction. Dr. Carnes walks us through the newly emerging understandings on the etiology of addictions and the epigenetic impact of trauma and toxic stress. Dynamic changes of culture become significant catalysts as well. Mental Health professionals need to sift through the research to understand the crisis we are in and what is required of us “on the front lines” of this war.

1. To describe the mental health research which is relevant to our declining longevity
2. To define the impact of addictive disorders on our mental health system
3. To offer concrete actions beyond clinical intervention clinicians can use

Longevity data decline

• Not violence, cancer, or smoking
• Opioid deaths
• Changing alcohol use
• Sexuality and Food

Never Enough and Demoralization

• Hopelessness and the Brain
• Role of Trauma and Toxic Stress
• Mental Health Diagnostic Changes and the Role of Embitterment and Prolonged Grief
• Culture and Economic Changes
• Lessons from History

Other Cultural Models Role of Teaching Resilience

• Interventions
• Public Education
• Covid 19 legacy?