Opinion Today: Inside the Covid-era opioid epidemic

In a 12-month period, 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP4QnAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGNzU0YTc4NDYtNWRjOC01MzQ4LWJhYTctNDE1MDA0NzQ2MzM2JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0SvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIxMTIwNlcDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) December 6, 2021 [Author Headshot] By Alexandra Sifferlin Senior Staff Editor, Opinion Amid lockdowns, distancing and job loss, there was another epidemic ripping through America: Drug overdoses claimed over 100,000 lives from April 2020 to April 2021, a record figure. Maia Szalavitz, a writer who covers addiction and policy, argues that there’s a reason times of uncertainty and economic inequality tend to be associated with higher levels of opioid addiction. On a chemical level, opioids can provide feelings of love and connection, potentially making these deadly and addictive drugs more appealing in periods of mass loneliness and disconnection. Some of the biggest risk factors for opioid overdose are [social disconnection](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2NpZW5jZWRpcmVjdC5jb20vc2NpZW5jZS9hcnRpY2xlL3BpaS9TMDM3Njg3MTYyMTAwMTc0NT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcjYmliMDEzMFcDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [using alone](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly9vbmxpbmVsaWJyYXJ5LndpbGV5LmNvbS9kb2kvMTAuMTExMS9hZGQuMTQ1MDg_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). And the pandemic has been associated with high rates of loneliness. Szalavitz, who was previously addicted to heroin, [argues in a guest essay today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3VzLW9waW9pZC1jcmlzaXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that policymakers need to understand how opioids work in the brain. “It wasn’t euphoria that hooked me,” she writes. “It was relief from my dread and anxiety, and a soothing sense that I was safe, nurtured and unconditionally loved.” Opioids mimic the neurotransmitters that are responsible for making social connection comforting, she writes. The human brain also makes its own versions of opioids, which help the body control pain and are critical to social bonds. Understanding the link between opioids and social connection can help policymakers better understand addiction and view it with more compassion, argues Szalavitz. “​​America can’t arrest its way out of a problem caused by the fundamental human need to connect,” she writes. Instead of jail time, people with addiction need a variety of resources and a chance to learn healthier ways to cope, she argues. “Some need psychiatric medications, including opioids themselves. (Long term use of methadone or buprenorphine is the only treatment [proven](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1hbmV0d29yay5jb20vam91cm5hbHMvamFtYXBzeWNoaWF0cnkvZnVsbGFydGljbGUvMjc4MDY1NT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) to cut the death rate from opioids by half or more.) Some need therapy or stable housing or meaningful work. Some need new friends, and many need all of the above. None need jail simply for trying to feel OK.” [Read the full essay here.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3VzLW9waW9pZC1jcmlzaXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Xavier Lissillour](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3VzLW9waW9pZC1jcmlzaXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Guest Essay Opioids Feel Like Love. That’s Why They’re Deadly in Tough Times. America can’t arrest its way out of a problem caused by the fundamental human need to connect. By Maia Szalavitz](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3VzLW9waW9pZC1jcmlzaXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjExMjA2VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ Subscriber Exclusive: Parenting during the pandemic hasn’t been easy. 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By Gail Collins and Bret Stephens](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL21pY2hpZ2FuLXJvZS1kb2xlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL21pY2hpZ2FuLXJvZS1kb2xlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Jamelle Bouie What Biden Isn’t Saying About Trump’s Positive Covid Test The former president’s reckless behavior deserves more attention. 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By Margaret Renkl](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3BlcnZpcy1wYXluZS1kZWF0aC1wZW5hbHR5LXN0YXRlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3BlcnZpcy1wYXluZS1kZWF0aC1wZW5hbHR5LXN0YXRlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Guest Essay Josh Hawley and the Republican Obsession With Manliness The Missouri senator is tapping into something real — a widespread, politically potent anxiety about young men that is already helping the right. By Liza Featherstone](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL2pvc2gtaGF3bGV5LXJlcHVibGljYW4tbWFubGluZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL2pvc2gtaGF3bGV5LXJlcHVibGljYW4tbWFubGluZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [The Editorial Board How Can You Destroy a Person’s Life and Only Get a Slap on the Wrist? The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility needs an overhaul. By The Editorial Board](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL3Byb3NlY3V0b3ItbWlzY29uZHVjdC1uZXcteW9yay1kb2ouaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL3Byb3NlY3V0b3ItbWlzY29uZHVjdC1uZXcteW9yay1kb2ouaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Guest Essay Is My Little Library Contributing to the Gentrification of My Black Neighborhood? Thoughts I had as I watched a white couple browsing books. By Erin Aubry Kaplan](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2dlbnRyaWZpY2F0aW9uLWxvcy1hbmdlbGVzLWxpdHRsZS1saWJyYXJ5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2dlbnRyaWZpY2F0aW9uLWxvcy1hbmdlbGVzLWxpdHRsZS1saWJyYXJ5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Guest Essay Rudeness Is On the Rise. You Got a Problem With That? How do we respond to a culture in which the guardrails of so-called civility are gone? By Jennifer Finney Boylan](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL3J1ZGVuZXNzLXN0cmVzcy1jdWx0dXJlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL3J1ZGVuZXNzLXN0cmVzcy1jdWx0dXJlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Tish Harrison Warren I’m Not Ready for Christmas. I Need to Take a Minute. Advent is an ideal time to grieve, reflect and look ahead. By Tish Harrison Warren](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2NocmlzdG1hcy1hZHZlbnQtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2NocmlzdG1hcy1hZHZlbnQtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Opinion Audio [Why Humans Aren’t the Worst (Despite, Well, Everything Happening in the World) The historian Rutger Bregman makes a case for the “collective brilliance” of humanity. By ‘Sway’](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3N3YXkta2FyYS1zd2lzaGVyLXJ1dGdlci1icmVnbWFuLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3N3YXkta2FyYS1zd2lzaGVyLXJ1dGdlci1icmVnbWFuLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIxMTIwNlcDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ What You’re Saying [letters Should Diversity Influence Hiring Decisions? Responses to a John McWhorter essay about criteria used for hiring a physics professor. Also: Domestic violence; political donors; premature births.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvZGl2ZXJzaXR5LWhpcmluZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvZGl2ZXJzaXR5LWhpcmluZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjExMjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ3MDkyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc2MjE0JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphjIIJrmEfwNH4Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. [Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TLaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD05S1hGVSZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIxMTIwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00NzA5MiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03NjIxNCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYYyCCa5hH8DR-FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Games Here is [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjkI6CP0TDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMTEyMDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDcwOTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzYyMTQmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmGMggmuYR_A0fhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). 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