American’s Concerns Over Economy and Drug-Use Worsen, Climate Worries Subside

Americans’ biggest concerns are the economy, health care affordability and crime, according to a recent Gallup poll.  

  • Drug use, crime and the social security system registered the largest increases in concern while energy affordability and the quality of the environment dropped the most.  

THE STATS – Gallup proposed this question to the participants of the survey: “For each problem facing the country, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or not at all?” 

Participants reported they worried “a great deal” about: 

  • Inflation: 61 percent 
  • The economy: 60 percent 
  • Availability and affordability of health care: 54 percent 
  • Drug use: 46 percent 
  • The quality of the environment: 39 percent 

WHY IT MATTERS –Climate concerns are at their lowest point since a survey conducted in 2015. Americans are more focused on the economy, unemployment, inflation, and the opioid and fentanyl epidemic plaguing the nation.  

THE BOTTOM LINE – Although important, environmental and climate issues are falling further down American’s priority list and more tangible concerns which affect their daily lives. It is possible that environmental and other issues will increase in popularity, yet that will begin once the quality of life improves, contingent on the recovery of economic and social factors.