Press ReleaseJanuary 16, 2019
Weekly Pulse: 89 Percent Say Opioids are a Serious Problem but Only 29 Percent Know Most Come from Mexico
Washington, DC (January 16, 2018) – Roughly 9 in 10 Americans say the opioid crisis is a national problem but less than a third know that most of the deadly drugs are pouring over the southwest border, according to the Job Creators Network/ScottRasmussen.com Weekly Pulse, released today.
“Americans know it’s a crisis, and more than 40 percent see it as a problem affecting the labor market,” said Elaine Parker, President of the Job Creators Network Foundation.
According to the Weekly Pulse, 66 percent of Americans say opioid addiction is a very serious problem for the United States. Twenty-three percent say it’s somewhat serious. The survey also found that nearly a quarter of Americans say they have a family member or friend who has been affected by an opioid overdose.
Forty-four percent of Americans believe that widespread use of drugs, including opioids, makes it harder for small businesses to find employees. Twenty percent say they know someone personally who has lost a job because of opioid addiction.
“The issue has gotten a lot of media attention. More importantly, millions of Americans have a personal experience with the issue,” said pollster Scott Rasmussen. “That helps explain the nearly universal sense that it’s a serious national problem.”
According to the DEA 2018 Threat Assessment, 85 percent of opioids, like the deadly drug Fentanyl, come across the border with Mexico. The Weekly Pulse found, however, that only 29 percent of Americans know that the Mexican border is the main point of entry.
Other polling questions included:
How would you rate the US economy today? Excellent (10%), Good (35%), Fair (34%), Poor (18%), Not sure (3%).
Is the economy getting better or worse? Better (30%), Worse (35%), About the same (28%), Not sure (7%).
Okay, how would you rate your own personal finances these days? Excellent (6%), Good (37%), Fair (34%), Poor (21%), Not sure (2%).
Are your personal finances getting better or worse? Better (29%), Worse (23%), About the same (45%), Not sure (2%).
Are companies in your area more likely to be hiring new workers or laying off existing workers? Hiring new workers (46%), Laying off existing workers (19%), Not sure (35%).
This ScottRasmussen.com/HarrisX poll of 1,093 US adults was conducted Jan. 14-15, 2019. For more information about the Job Creators Network, please visit www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com.
