Here’s the conclusion of a piercing op-ed by Jessika Bohon in The Guardian (thanks to Doug McVay for sending):
“…Addiction is a symptom for many young adults, not the root problem. The only group of 25 to 44 year olds that did not see their death rate go up was those with four-year college degrees.
“It is critical that young Americans without college degrees also find employment that provides them with a decent income and a bit of the American dream. People without college degrees are 370% more likely to experience severe pain. But opioids and the medicalization of poverty cannot replace a job with a decent wage and benefits. Appalachians will tell you that jobs are the key.”
The wise Dr. Anton Chekhov observed long ago, “A life without purpose is a bore and a horror.”
