People Who Know Someone Addicted to Opioids Less Likely to Say Economy is Good

A new report by the Federal Reserve finds people who know someone who has been addicted to opioids are less likely to give the national or local economy a favorable rating.

The survey found one out of five Americans say they personally know someone who has been addicted to opioids or prescription painkillers, according to NPR. The survey found exposure to opioid addiction was twice as likely among whites, regardless of education levels, compared with African-Americans. This is the first year the Federal Reserve has included questions about opioid addiction in its annual survey, the article notes.

A report released last year found as much as 20 percent of the decline in male participation in the labor force could be associated with opioid use.