America Celebrates Lower Gun Deaths While Puffing More Vape Clouds
KEY POINTS
- •United Health Foundation released its 2025 health rankings covering 99 measures from 31 data sources.
- •Despite encouraging declines in drug, firearm, and homicide deaths, e-cigarette use and chronic diseases increased.
- •New Hampshire topped the healthiest list while Louisiana ranked last, amid rising unemployment and homelessness nationwide.
The United Health Foundation's 2025 Annual Report unveiled a fascinating cocktail of America's health contradictions. Despite drops in premature deaths, drug overdoses, firearm incidents, and homicides, e-cigarette use and chronic conditions surged—because why quit one habit when you can swap it? Homelessness and unemployment also climbed, blaming no single state but knocking on all doors alike. The organization behind the numbers, UnitedHealth Group, mingled data from 31 sources to rank states, crowning New Hampshire as healthiest while Louisiana sulked at rock bottom. A report this comprehensive probably took more breaths than Americans are currently avoiding with their growing vape pens.
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Congrats, America: fewer gun deaths but more people huffing e-cigarettes and a rise in outranking unemployment. Progress or paradox?
America's health report reads like a tragicomedy: fewer homicides but more vapors and economic ruins nationwide.
Apparently, quitting shootings means picking up vape pens and the couch side. A health upgrade, maybe?
Source: Axios | Published: 1/8/2026 | Author: Mike Allen
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