Americans Torn Over Key Public Health Issues, Including Opioids, Gun Control

A new survey was shedding light on the division of the American population in key public health issues.

Axios, in association with market research firm Ipsos, found that identifying oneself as a Democrat or a Republican largely increased the chances of considering certain public health issues as more urgent than others.

Related: Biden Administration Plans To End COVID-19 Public Health Emergency In May

Gun Control Vs. Opioids: When asked what was the "current greatest threat to U.S. public health," a majority of Republicans recognized the opioid epidemic while a majority of Democrats said it was access to firearms. These two were the most chosen responses, with 37% of Republicans picking opioids/fentanyl and 35% of Democrats picking access to guns.

Cancer, which along with heart disease and COVID-19, was one of the top three causes of death for Americans in 2021, was recognized as the greatest threat to public health by only 12% of all respondents, who put obesity in second place, with 21% of all responses.

The respondents' level of education also affected their probability of choosing one cause over the other.

"People with a high school education or less are, by a three-to-one margin, more concerned with opioids over obesity compared to those with a college degree, who see obesity as the bigger issue," said Ipsos in a press release.

The survey was performed on a nationally representative sample of 1,213 adults over 18 years old between Feb. 17 to Feb. 21 of this year.

According to Axios, the responses were in line with partisan policy actions in the government.

"House Energy and Commerce subcommittee kicked off the year under the new Republican majority with a hearing focused on fentanyl, while House Democrats have asked for a classified briefing on mass shootings," wrote the outlet.