Universal healthcare might help but it is also–
- Auto accidents driven by car culture.
- Higher drug and alcohol abuse rates.
- Higher suicide rates driven by access to firearms.
- A culture of unhealthy eating that leads to obesity, heart disease, and increased risk of cancer.
Is alcohol abuse more prevalent in the US?
The US alcohol consumption avg. is 2.51 gallons, or 9.5 litres per person and year. In the EU the average is also 9.5 litres per person and year. For drug abuse i know the US have the specific opiod problem, but that also seems to be a result of a poor healthcare system, where taking painkillers until addiction is chosen over actually solving the underlying injuries for monetary reasons.
In Europe it’s more common to drink socially, in America it’s more common to drink to be numb. There’s a big psychological difference between a glass of wine at the family dinner table and a beer in front of the TV to forget about work, even if the amount of alcohol is the same.
The difference between social and indiidual drinking as an indicator for addiction is a myth. Getting drunk with other people regularly is equally a sign of addiction, like it is to do so by yourself.
The pressure many cultures have around social drinking in Europe are also indicative of that. It is not truly optional to have a drink in many contexts.