Since ancient times, millions of people have died of epidemics of plague, flu, cholera, and other infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms. Major advances in medicine have largely eliminated these mass killers with vaccines and antibiotics. However, modern societies are facing a new kind of epidemics: behavioral epidemics. The annual rates of mortality by suicides and opioid overdose have been escalating over the last 2 decades and today are responsible for the death of 1 American every 5.5 minutes. Consequently, the average US life span, which had been rising progressively since mid-1950s, has fallen for the first time.¹

中文翻译：

---

对抗现代孤独行为流行病：研究和干预建议。

自古以来，已有数百万人死于鼠疫、流感、霍乱以及其他由细菌、病毒或其他微生物引起的感染流行。医学的重大进步通过疫苗和抗生素在很大程度上消除了这些大规模杀手。然而，现代社会正面临一种新的流行病：行为流行病。过去 20 年来，自杀和阿片类药物过量导致的年死亡率一直在上升，如今每 5.5 分钟就有 1 名美国人死亡。因此，自 20 世纪 50 年代中期以来不断上升的美国人平均寿命首次下降。 ¹