Understanding Drug Death Rates by Country

Why Do Some Nations Have Fewer Drug-Related Deaths?

[Note: This Dear Stanton Question has been created with help from AI]

Stanton,
Why do you believe some countries perform significantly better than others in preventing drug-related deaths and supporting citizens struggling with addiction?

Countries like Portugal, France, Switzerland, and Germany report much lower drug death rates per million people — Portugal (7), France (9), Switzerland (17), and Germany (22) — in stark contrast to the United States (322), Scotland (264), Canada (209), and Northern Ireland (112).

What makes the approach in these lower-rate countries so effective? How do national healthcare systems, cultural attitudes toward community and healthcare, and a nation’s overall sense of social responsibility impact these outcomes?

Alina

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Dear Alina,

Countries differ in many ways. These include how encompassing their health care systems are. And also how many drug deaths they experience.

In fact these two things seem related.

For example France, Portugal and Germany have generous national health care systems. The US not so much.

And drug deaths are astronomically higher per capita in the US.

What is going on?

National Caring and a Sense of Community

I would say some nations have a more enveloping culture of caring. That everyone’s well being in the country is the concern of all.

Of course this is projected by their investment in their national health care systems, which treat everyone equally.

But it goes beyond that. I think that countries like France, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany have a greater sense of community. That people are all a part of humanity together. As a result the neighborhoods and towns in those countries are stronger than is generally true for Americans. (There are exceptions here, of course.)

How does that translate into avoiding drug deaths?

Well, people who die from drugs are more often alone (80% are alone when they die).

It seems that when you have people around who care for you — both intimate partners and family) — you are less likely to die from drug use.

Here are four reasons for that:

• You are less likely to use drugs dangerously when you have people who care for you.
• There is someone present to help you or to call for help should you overdose.
• Communities are strong providers of health care — including mental health care — that people really use.
• Being part of a community makes people feel more connected. And being connected is the opposite of being addicted.

Strengthen Your Community

It’s not likely that you can change your nation’s health care system or community strength. But what you CAN do is seek out relationships and community ties. Indeed, this is one of the focuses the Life Process Program and our coaches are always interested in and concerned about.

• How well are you relating to others?
• How much are you seeking out other people?
• Are you trying to be actively engaged in your neighborhood and community?

Because all of these things — as well as being fun and emotionally supportive — make it less likely that you will be addicted. And that you will die a drug death.

Cheers!
Stanton