1. KFF: 2/3 of Americans have been affected by drugs or alcohol addictions
KFF puts out some really interesting, great work on topics that others often don’t have the time or space to cover. I recommend always paying attention to their releases. This latest one on opioid use and experiences shows that an astonishing two-thirds of Americans have themselves experienced or had a family member experience problems due to drugs or alcohol addiction. Specific to opioid addiction, three in ten have been or had a family member who has been impacted, and those numbers are highest among rural Americans.
Rural Americans have a bit of a reputation as angry and distressed, and, well, here’s a good reason why.
2. Gallup: Increases in thinking drinking is harmful are greatest among young people
The research on drinking “in moderation” has shifted in recent years. We’ve known for a long time that drinking heavily has disastrous health effects, but more recent findings show that alcohol could have harmful effects when consumed at any level. Gallup has a 20+ year trend on whether Americans think drinking in moderation is good for, bad for, or doesn’t affect health. Bad for health has increased a little, good for health has decreased a little, but about half still think it doesn’t matter. The much more interesting piece is how this has shifted by age:
Of course, attitude shifts might mean little for actual behavior. Yet we’re seeing changes in the alcohol industry that have to be the result of demand — including a big expansion of zero-proof drinks that actually taste good (side-eye here for O’Doul’s; applause for Athletic Brewing Company). I’m not unbiased on this issue; I think drinky culture is dumb and harmful, so I welcome this shift.
3. Pew Research: Most gun owners enjoy owning guns
I grew up in rural America, where pretty much everyone I knew had guns in their home (except me). When you live in the middle of nowhere with a high likelihood of unknown critters coming around, and no protective or rescue services nearby to help with said critters or humans with bad intentions, I get why people want to have a gun for protection. And in that culture, a gun isn’t something to speak quietly about, it’s a point of pride. So of course, when Pew Research asked people whether they enjoy owning a gun, most said yes. Even more said they feel safer. Of course, none of this negates the very real safety issues with guns in the home, which Pew finds few are concerned about. I’m just saying it’s a different culture than non-gun-owners have typically experienced. Oh, and the stats in the article do show that rural Americans are more likely to be gun owners.
4. Fox News: Americans want more of almost everything in education
Fox News does good, high-quality polls. I think most of my audience knows that, but just in case you don’t, here’s your notice: The official Fox News polls are quite good, conducted by a bipartisan team, and very fair.
An interesting nugget in their most recent poll is in their questions about what public schools should teach more or less of — the short version is that most Americans think there is too little teaching on basic topics, including citizenship, and a plurality think there’s too little teaching about racism — a result many might find surprising given the debates about it. The answers are mixed on sexual orientation and gender, as one would expect.
I’m not sure where teachers and schools are supposed to find time to teach more of everything, though.
5. GQR: Most people think Tuberville is wrong
This last link is also an excuse to disclose that I’ve started work as a vice president at GQR, which is a left-leaning partisan polling firm. Most of the work is private, but occasionally there are public releases. I had nothing to do with this one, but I did find it interesting.
My colleagues asked about Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military promotions, providing arguments for both sides of the issue. You can read those below and decide whether you think they are fair on both sides; my view is that we could quibble about question wording, but they seem fairly balanced. The upshot: Most people think Tuberville is wrong.
A personal note:
As I get into my new position, I may or may not have time to do this newsletter. I started it while I was not in a full-time job, so I’m unsure of the balancing act. I promise to try to keep doing it, even sporadically, to help lift up polls that might be overlooked.