One recently published model of deaths of despair due to COVID lockdowns projects that as many as 75,000 more people will die from drug or alcohol misuse and suicide. In addition to the sudden emergence of the novel virus, this study cites unprecedented economic failure paired with massive unemployment, as well as mandated social isolation for months and possible residual isolation for years. An analysis of CDC data by the Washington Post found about 13,200 excess deaths due to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia since March. According to the report:
