10 stats that shaped 2022

 

View in web browser The Rundown 10 Stats That Shaped 2022

From election outcomes to pandemic-driven policy changes—2022 was a year of significant shifts. One thing stayed constant, though: our need for data to make a difference. These 10 statistics show where we've been, where we're headed, and where action is needed.

1. 🗳️ More than half of Americans don't expect big changes after the 2022 midterm elections. The recent U.S. election was the second consecutive midterm that resulted in divided control of Congress—and Americans have doubts about whether either side will be able to pass programs into law. Among the Pew Research Center survey findings: • Most Americans say President Joe Biden (65%) and Republican leaders in Congress (61%) will be unsuccessful getting their agendas enacted in the next two years. • Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults say Democrat-Republican relations in 2023 will stay about the same as they are now. Just over a third say relations will worsen. A more hopeful takeaway: About 9 in 10 voters say elections in their local communities were administered well this year. FULL REPORT

2. Flooding is nearly a daily occurrence in the U.S. Significant flooding was yet again prevalent across the nation this year. In fact, since 2000, each year has included an average of nearly 300 days of flooding. Congress introduced a new resilience bill this year that could help federal agencies, state officials, and local leaders coordinate to safeguard infrastructure and make communities safer. SEE CHARTS, MAPS

3. At least 34 states eased access to FDA-approved treatments for opioid use disorder during the pandemic. Overdose deaths in the U.S. hit record levels this year—more than 100,000 between April 2021 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Proven treatments do exist—but in 2020, only 11% of people with opioid use disorder received them. In response to social distancing orders during the pandemic, the federal government eased restrictions on how patients can procure these medications. Now, states are aiming to maintain (or reinstate) this flexibility—but policymakers can still do more. MAJOR PROGRESS

4. The U.S. middle class has decreased considerably since 1971. The middle class is in decline—and median incomes for upper-class households are rising considerably faster than those for middle- and lower-income households. There's also been a plunge in the share of income held by the middle class. Middle-class milestones • Black adults and older or married adults have seen some of the biggest income gains since 1971. • Despite some progress, only about 1 in 10 Black and Hispanic adults were upper income in 2021, compared with 1 in 4 or more White and Asian adults. • In 2021, Black and Hispanic adults, as well as women overall, were more likely to be lower income. TAKEAWAYS 5. People with mental health conditions are jailed more than 2 million times each year, often for misdemeanors. Across the U.S., police, jail officials, and emergency room physicians are often the only service providers available around the clock to respond to people with untreated mental illness and substance use disorders. Some cities are leading the charge on expanding access to care: • City officials and partner organizations in Galveston, Texas, announced a health-first response to behavioral health emergencies. • Dallas' health-focused response teams, each consisting of a paramedic, a mental health clinician, and a trained police officer, show promising results. Between 2017 and 2019, the teams minimized the number of arrests and transports to jails or ERs. In addition, some states are rolling out support for the new 988 hotline —a critical resource for those grappling with mental health and substance use emergencies. 🎧 MORE ON OUR PODCAST 6. Superbugs resulted in 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2019 (the latest year for which data is available). Antibiotics are vital to modern medicine—and they're endangered. Bacteria are increasingly evolving into drug-resistant "superbugs," and we're not developing new antibiotics fast enough to keep up. One big reason: The market for new antibiotics is broken, and new incentives are needed to spur innovation. In fact, the last new class of antibiotics to come to market was discovered in 1984—almost 40 years ago. Fortunately, Congress can help by passing the PASTEUR Act. 🧠 Got superbug smarts? Test yourself with our antibiotics awareness quiz. WHAT'S NEEDED

7. Half of U.S. adults under 30 say they have at least some trust in information from social media. Americans 18-29 are now almost as likely to trust information from social media sites as they are to trust information from national news outlets. Two more news nuggets: • Among Americans of all ages, local news outlets are still the most trusted sources of information. But trust in even these outlets is at its lowest point in recent years. • About three-quarters of Democrats and those who lean Democratic (77%) have at least some trust in information from national news outlets—35 points higher than Republicans and those who lean Republican (42%). SURVEY RESULTS 8. Less than 1% of rivers in the U.S. are federally protected. Rivers provide drinking water for two-thirds of Americans, vital habitat for wildlife, tens of billions of dollars in economic output, and more—all the more reason to safeguard these waterways. • Ones to watch: These six river systems deserve stronger safeguards. Congress can help. 🧠 Bonus: Take our rivers quiz to see what you know—and what you don't—about these vital ecological resources. 8 REASONS FOR SAFEGUARDS

9. Roughly 1 in 5 student loan borrowers were in default as of March 2021. During the past decade, outstanding debt on federal student loans jumped from about $500 billion to over $1.3 trillion—more than any other category of household debt other than mortgages. What's more, defaults on these loans are common. Fortunately, borrowers saw some advances toward relief in 2022, including: • Restored progress toward forgiveness for borrowers in income-driven plans. • A "fresh start" for those in default. • A new rule to limit balance growth and a proposal for a new income-based repayment plan. SEE THE LATEST

10. Jail populations grew 7% in the first three quarters of 2022—a return to pre-pandemic levels. In the early months of the pandemic, jail populations dropped—but since then, numbers are rebounding in many facilities to levels seen in early 2020 (or even higher), figures from the Jail Data Initiative show. The costs associated with jails—and evidence that jail populations can be safely reduced—are incentives for states to re-evaluate. Successes in the states: • Following Louisiana reforms in 2017, prison populations in the state have safely fallen 24%, driven entirely by a decline in convictions for nonviolent offenses. • At least 20 states are working to improve probation and parole practices—and seeing measurable results. Bonus reading: Here are five specific policies that can make a difference. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

🌎 Take a Break: Check Out Pew Environment on Instagram Credit: Michele Westmorland/Getty Images From now through the new year, we're looking back at some of the biggest victories for nature this year. From new marine protected areas and national monuments to investments in Indigenous leadership, our Instagram feed has it all. SHARE + SEE PHOTOS

Thank you for spending time with us in 2022. We wish you a safe, happy, and healthy new year.

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