Top School Districts in Maryland, 2018

Maryland’s public school districts compare very favorably with those of the rest of the nation, ranking 16th overall in Pre-K education by U.S. News & World Report. As one of the thirteen original colonies, the state has had a long time to develop its standard of excellent public education.

The #1 ranked district in Maryland is the Howard County Public School System, based in Columbia, Maryland and serving the communities of the county that lends it its name. The large district of 76 schools boasts an impressive graduation rate of 93.2%.

Worcester County Public Schools, a district of 14 schools in Worcester County, MD, places second in the ranking. Along with the academic achievements of its students, the faculty and staff of its schools have also earned recognition, including Pocomoke High School Principal Annette Wallace, who was named Maryland’s 2016 High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Third on the list is Calvert County Public Schools, a district of 23 schools based in the system’s namesake county consistently ranking among the best in the state in academic achievement.

Maryland’s #4 district is Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest in the state and 14th largest in the U.S., with over 205 schools. MCPS’s excellence was recognized in 2010, when it was the recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Closing out Maryland’s top five is Carroll County Public Schools, another very large district with over 26,500 students. CCPS’s schools consistently achieve test scores comfortably above nation and statewide averages.

Top School Districts in Maryland, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Howard County Public SchoolsMaryland
2Worcester County Public SchoolsMaryland
3Calvert County Public SchoolsMaryland
4Montgomery County Public SchoolsMaryland
5Carroll County Public SchoolsMaryland
6Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsMaryland
7Harford County Public SchoolsMaryland
8Frederick County Public SchoolsMaryland
9Queen Anne'S County Public SchoolsMaryland
10St. Mary'S County Public SchoolsMaryland
11Baltimore County Public SchoolsMaryland
12Washingtion County Public SchoolsMaryland
13Charles County Public SchoolsMaryland
14Caroline County Public SchoolsMaryland
15Garrett County Public SchoolsMaryland
16Allegany County Public SchoolsMaryland
17Cecil County Public SchoolsMaryland
18Talbot County Public SchoolsMaryland
19Wicomico County Public SchoolsMaryland
20Kent County Public SchoolsMaryland
21Prince George'S County Public SchoolsMaryland
22Somerset County Public SchoolsMaryland
23Dorchester County Public SchoolsMaryland
24Baltimore City Public SchoolsMaryland

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

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The Best (and Worst) Dating Scenes in the U.S. 2018

bestdatingscenes

Valentine’s Day is around the corner; a holiday that can be a hard time for any single person. Television is inundated with images of happy couples, and store aisles are stocked with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and sappy greeting cards. If you can’t take the thought of spending another February 14th by your lonesome, perhaps it’s time to step out and try your luck in your local dating scene. Sure, it can be daunting, especially if it’s been a while since your last date, or your city or town isn’t exactly the optimal environment for finding a match.

In order to find out which U.S. cities are the best for dating, we’ve analyzed 102 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States in a number of categories most relevant to starry-eyed hopefuls. Our ranking is based on:

  • Safety (a score calculated using the latest FBI crime data and CDC STD infection rate statistics)
  • Availability (based on the percentage of single women in a given city, which we consider a better indicator of dating opportunity than the percentage of single men or single people in general and taken from U.S. census data)
  • Affordability (judged by comparing the average cost of a three-course meal for two at an inexpensive restaurant in each city from numbeo.com data)
  • Density of nightlife options (based on a trulia.com blog post with a comprehensive list of the number of bars per 10,000 inhabitants in a large swath of U.S. cities)

Let’s take a look at the findings...

The Best Dating Scenes in the U.S.

1. San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California comes in at #1 due to a whopping 16.5 bars per 10K, more than any other city on the list, and a considerable 44.70% share of the female population being single, a higher ratio than any other. Despite its reputation as an extremely costly cityin which to live, represented here by the average restaurant meal price of $75, the second highest average price overall, the density of nightlife options and ubiquity of singles make San Fran’s dating scene an excellent one.

2. Reno, Nevada

You might be surprised by Reno, Nevada, coming in at #2 on the list. Famous for its hotels, casinos, and being sort of a mini-Las Vegas, Reno’s high ratio of single women, above-average safety and density of bars render the mid-sized city rife with opportunities for singles to find their match.

3. Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon places at #3. The Pacific Northwestern hipster mecca--known for its rainy weather, offbeat charm, scores of cafes and coffee shops, and being lampooned on IFC’s Portlandia sketch show—ranks high due to low crime and STD rates, affordable restaurant prices and high density of bars.

4. Omaha, Nebraska

Just behind Portland is Omaha, Nebraska, the largest city in the state. Omaha offers affordability and a good concentration of nightlife options, while boasting low crime numbers and STD rates.

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

Rounding out the top five is Las Vegas, scoring high due to its 12.8 bars per 10,000 inhabitants, inexpensive meal prices, and high % of single women. “Sin City” may get a little rowdy, and its reputation for encouraging vice of all forms may be off putting to some, but Vegas certainly has much opportunity for singles.

The rest of the top ten are Madison, Wisconsin (#6), a thriving college town with a high safety score and a ton of bars, New Orleans (#7), the famous culinary and cultural capital of Louisiana that makes up for its high crime and STD rates with a wealth of dining and drinking options and a high ratio of singles, Lincoln, Nebraska (#8), a clean, safe Midwestern city with affordable restaurant prices, Billings, Montana (#9), a mid-sized city surrounded by mountains with a very low cost of living and low crime rates, and Seattle, Washington (#10) with its many bars, high ratio of single women, and low crime rates. Seattle is brought down only by its relatively expensive dining and entertainment costs.

The Worst Dating Scenes in the U.S.

Other cities did not fare so well. The bottom five worst cities for dating earned their unimpressive positions for a number of reasons. Stockton, California (#98) ranks low due to a unimpressive ratio of single women, expensive restaurants, and a low density of nightlife options. Just below it is Anchorage, Alaska (#99), whose cardinal sins are high crime rates, high STD infection rates, and somewhat expensive dining out prices. Number 100 on the list is Wilmington, Delaware, a city that fails to impress in any category, with its rather high rate of violent crime being the most discouraging characteristic.

Next-to last-in the ranking is Little Rock, Arkansas, a city with a low % of singles, a scarcity of nightlife destinations, and a high rate of violent crime. Finally, coming at last, overall, is Memphis, Tennessee. The position is unfortunate considering the city’s well-earned reputation for being one of the most important cities for soul, the blues and rock n’ roll, yet the city’s grimly high rates of violent crime and STD infections are too much to compensate for.

Where did your city fall on the list? Do you agree or disagree with its placing? This ranking is meant to be fun and informative, but if your city ranks low among others, don’t let it discourage you: there’s always hope of finding the right partner no matter which part of the country you find yourself.

A closer look at the dating data...

RankCityStatePopulationViolent crimes per 1KAdjusted STD Rate per 1K% of Single WomenPrice for Meal, $$Bars per 10K
1San FranciscoCalifornia871,1557.116.7244.70%7516.5
2RenoNevada244,5547.025.9836.00%4614
3PortlandOregon642,1294.935.4233.30%5013.3
4OmahaNebraska446,1635.675.0131.20%4011.8
5Las VegasNevada1,592,1788.496.4137.00%5012.8
6MadisonWisconsin252,1363.305.3433.50%5010.8
7New OrleansLouisiana397,20810.709.2439.10%5913.6
8LincolnNebraska281,1383.585.0131.20%458.9
9BillingsMontana111,4474.614.7830.70%358.1
10SeattleWashington700,3136.135.3536.30%62.510.2
11BostonMassachusetts673,8807.073.7139.20%658.7
12San JoseCalifornia1,041,8443.734.2333.30%38.66.5
13AustinTexas956,9114.087.2534.80%52.59.5
14WarwickRhode Island81,4810.754.5433.30%506.5
15ColumbusOhio862,5155.227.2534.20%428.3
16San DiegoCalifornia1,413,4143.776.6535.20%609.2
17FremontCalifornia235,8811.786.0535.30%506.5
18IrvingTexas240,7652.165.5531.40%406.5
19SpokaneWashington214,0285.985.0431.90%458
20CharlestonSouth Carolina135,1533.026.8832.80%53.58.5
21OrlandoFlorida277,7198.386.0933.60%458.9
22CheyenneWyoming64,0462.693.8029.60%47.56.5
23New YorkNew York8,566,9175.736.0039.80%77.59
24FargoNorth Dakota121,2173.855.3630.90%47.57.3
25PlanoTexas288,2421.385.5531.40%506.5
26San AntonioTexas1,498,6427.187.5631.50%358.1
27Savannah-Chatham Georgia241,2964.877.3534.20%609.1
28LexingtonKentucky317,8533.394.9233.00%404.9
29DenverColorado699,2596.575.9034.50%608.7
30PortlandMaine67,0412.923.3331.70%707.8
31TampaFlorida375,9045.075.5935.80%607.3
32BoiseIdaho220,7492.983.7927.50%405.9
33Long BeachCalifornia476,4765.976.5437.70%52.56.5
34HonoluluHawaii995,5723.355.4435.30%606.5
35PhiladelphiaPennsylvania1,570,8269.897.4236.00%6010.2
36St. PetersburgFlorida259,5106.655.5935.80%506.5
37ScottsdaleArizona240,8851.536.2133.50%57.56.5
38El PasoTexas687,1933.906.1328.40%406.9
39AnaheimCalifornia353,5043.426.5431.60%506.9
40Los AngelesCalifornia4,007,9057.196.5437.70%607.2
41PittsburghPennsylvania302,4437.824.3331.90%506.8
42ArlingtonTexas392,6665.575.5528.90%406.5
43MesaArizona478,2774.296.2133.50%556.5
44BridgeportConnecticut148,1807.524.3330.70%466.5
45SacramentoCalifornia495,4717.165.6934.30%506.3
46AuroraColorado366,4775.295.9034.50%606.5
47Des MoinesIowa211,5017.084.6629.90%506.9
48TucsonArizona533,6637.956.0236.20%404.5
49ChicagoIllinois2,725,15311.056.9635.40%609.1
50St. PaulMinnesota303,9206.485.1232.40%505.9
51MilwaukeeWisconsin600,19315.339.2435.10%5011.1
52PhoenixArizona1,586,6116.746.2133.50%506.2
53CincinnatiOhio298,8809.106.4231.00%407.0
54Santa AnaCalifornia337,4194.786.5431.60%556.5
55Corpus ChristiTexas327,9487.106.1331.60%466.1
56RiversideCalifornia325,8965.295.2729.60%455.3
57DetroitMichigan669,67320.476.0644.00%456.5
58JacksonvilleFlorida880,5576.257.1332.70%506.1
59DallasTexas1,320,9397.625.5531.40%455.5
60BuffaloNew York257,44611.106.6634.60%557.4
61Jersey CityNew Jersey266,1794.796.0032.30%656.5
62Fort WorthTexas851,8495.265.5528.90%455.1
63WashingtonDistrict of Columbia681,17011.323.9136.20%656.3
64FresnoCalifornia524,7966.116.0531.30%454.8
65ToledoOhio278,36611.926.2733.90%42.56
66San BernardinoCalifornia217,30313.245.2729.60%356.5
67Oklahoma CityOklahoma641,6817.836.9731.40%405.2
68Colorado SpringsColorado464,1134.965.9027.80%556.4
69MiamiFlorida449,4698.875.4736.90%726.5
70ClevelandOhio386,22716.317.2836.20%508.1
71HoustonTexas2,334,34810.266.2830.00%456.6
72MinneapolisMinnesota416,75111.095.1232.40%505.9
73MobileAlabama249,9216.846.5733.10%403.3
74Louisville MetroKentucky683,8256.766.7732.90%504.7
75NashvilleTennessee668,68511.025.3632.30%556.4
76ManchesterNew Hampshire110,3536.722.8129.80%756.4
77BakersfieldCalifornia378,7884.816.0528.30%454.4
78Virginia BeachVirginia453,0171.559.1730.70%605.9
79Fort WayneIndiana261,6423.976.1330.40%503.8
80WichitaKansas391,39910.574.8729.10%505.9
81Salt Lake CityUtah193,9189.363.5828.50%504.8
82NewarkNew Jersey281,4509.376.0032.30%504.7
83LubbockTexas252,90010.846.1331.10%48.55.4
84AlbuquerqueNew Mexico561,56011.127.3036.80%453.6
85AtlantaGeorgia472,57910.847.0533.80%504.9
86LaredoTexas259,3253.626.1324.00%353.1
87Charlotte-MecklenburgNorth Carolina896,3797.327.0730.80%555.2
88OaklandCalifornia424,99814.266.7235.30%606.4
89TulsaOklahoma405,74810.956.6529.80%455
90St. LouisMissouri314,50719.136.9232.90%508
91Kansas CityMissouri478,36416.556.4431.60%507.1
92IndianapolisIndiana866,35113.747.8832.60%506.4
93NorfolkVirginia245,7346.589.1730.70%706.5
94ModestoCalifornia212,8809.886.0529.00%605.3
95Baton RougeLouisiana228,3899.388.1832.90%604.7
96CharlestonWest Virginia49,42915.522.9130.50%452.9
97BaltimoreMaryland618,38517.806.9134.80%606.4
98StocktonCalifornia308,34814.216.0529.20%606.3
99AnchorageAlaska299,09711.448.9032.60%605.5
100WilmingtonDelaware72,18317.807.4232.80%504.8
101Little RockArkansas198,80015.316.7830.70%452.8
102MemphisTennessee656,43418.209.3836.50%503.7

Methodology

We created this ranking to assess how major metropolitan areas in the United States compare in a number of categories important to singles active in the dating scene. A total of 102 metropolitan areas were scrutinized: the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. by population according to the latest FBI crime statistics, along with additional cities added in order to ensure that each U.S. state was represented. A number of cities were excluded due to a significant lack of pertinent data. Several data sources were used, including FBI crime data, CDC STD rate data, U.S. census data, numbeo.com (for average meal prices) and a trulia.com blog post listing bars per 10,000 inhabitants in a large number of U.S. metropolitan areas. An overall ranking by dating scene score was calculated using a number of variables, including safety (violent crime rates & STD infection rates), availability (% of single women), affordability (average price of a dinner for two at an inexpensive restaurant) and nightlife options (bars per 10,000).

Guide to Addiction Recovery and Rehab Centers

Many of us help ourselves to a glass of wine or two (or three) or smoke a little pot after coming home from a stressful day at work. Letting loose with a little bit of our substance of choice allows us to destress and unwind after a hectic day. Drinking also aids people in relaxing before or during high pressure social events and intimidating first dates.

But when does responsible use cross over into abuse, followed by addiction? It can be a slippery slope, happening gradually without one even noticing. Two drinks at the end of the day becomes four, five or more until it begins affecting your work and relationships with friends and loved ones. Eventually, one may feel trapped and consumed by a reliance on alcohol or other drugs, without a means of escape.

Yet, there’s always a way out. This guide was put together for those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, as well as their loved ones. It includes information on how to recognize if you or someone you know has a problem, and includes information on treatment centers and a variety of other options in treating addiction.

Recognizing Addiction

Is addiction a disease?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.”

So yes, addiction IS a disease like any other, and not one to be ashamed of. Fortunately, like other diseases, treatment is available for those who seek it out. The first step is recognizing that there is a problem.

Do I, or my loved ones suffer, from addiction?

Many of us go through periods of overindulgence. The difference is that most people are able to recognize their periodic overuse of alcohol and drugs and pull back, while those suffering addiction are unwilling or unable to stop.

Behaviors characteristic of addiction include:

  • Physical changes, such as weight gain, weight loss. Skin problems, like edema or psoriasis. Withdrawal symptoms such as shaky hands, insomnia or flu-like symptoms.

  • Increase in dosage or consumption in order to achieve the desired effect.

  • Pulling away from social obligations and relationships.

  • Risky behavior, such as driving under the influence or putting oneself in dangerous situations in order to obtain drugs.

  • Using in secret, at inappropriate times. Hiding drugs and alcohol away from others.

If you or someone you know displays one or more of these behaviors, there may be a problem with addiction.

Is there a difference between abuse and addiction?

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation differentiates between abuse and addiction by stating that while abuse involves a pattern of drinking and/or drug use that affects one’s performance at work or school which can damage relationships with friends and family, addiction is characterized by the inability to quit, or cut down on consumption.

The difference is that someone that is abusing drugs or alcohol may be able to recognize their behavior and cut down without outside intervention or treatment, whereas someone suffering from addiction cannot.

When is it time to get help for addiction?

It is often said that one must hit “rock bottom” before seeking treatment for addiction. This is a myth. It is possible to look for help and treatment without hitting some fabled low point. Here are some signs it’s time to seek treatment for a possible addiction:

  • No longer able to control use.

  • Loss of interest in other activities and obligations.

  • Use of drugs and alcohol having serious financial ramifications.

  • Stealing or engaging in other risky behavior to procure drugs or money for drugs.

The consequences of not getting help for addiction

The dangers and ultimate consequences of not seeking treatment are very real. Millions suffer the effects of addiction, either their own or of others around them each year, and many more succumb to the illness.

Encouraging others to seek help

If your friend, family member or partner is exhibiting behavior characteristic of addiction, it can be really hard to broach the subject with them, especially if the person is unwilling to stop or even acknowledge that they have a problem. The fact that they are often under the influence of substances only exacerbates the difficulty. Picking the right time and place to bring it up is an important decision and can determine whether the person agrees to get help, or responds negatively to your pleas.

Choosing the right strategy

Alcohol and drug use can cause people to behave erratically, and even violently, if they hear something that they do not want to hear. Spontaneously confronting someone about their addiction can backfire, result in violent encounters and precipitate more drug and alcohol abuse. The best approach is to gather support and plan an intervention.

Planning and staging an intervention

The Mayo Clinic outlines certain steps in putting together and having a successful intervention. These are:

  1. Planning. The initiator of the intervention should speak to family or friends that they think would be willing to contribute and participate. Next, it is highly recommended that they seek the advice and expertise of a qualified counselor or addiction specialist to ensure that the intervention is staged in a manner that best ensures a positive outcome.

  2. Collating information. Members of the intervention group get together and discuss the addiction sufferer’s problem, the extent of their drug or alcohol use, and how their use has affected them personally. Steps may be made to contact a treatment center.

  3. Forming a group. Now it’s time to decide who will participate in the actual intervention. It isn’t necessary for everyone involved in the planning of the intervention to take part in the actual event. If someone feels that their presence could hurt the chances of the intervention being successful, or personally don’t feel comfortable or safe, that’s okay. Once it’s settled on who will be there, decide on which role(s) each group member will take.

  4. Agreeing on consequences and organizing thoughts and comments. Each member of the group should write down experiences they’ve had where the addict’s behavior hurt or harmed them, or times where they’ve witnessed the addict’s drug or alcohol abuse cause self-harm. Then everyone must come to an agreement on the consequences of their loved one refusing to accept help at the end of the intervention.

  5. Staging the intervention. It is important to lure the person to the site of the intervention without indicating what is about to take place. Optimally, the person will not actively be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but depending on the severity of the problem, this may be difficult to achieve. Once the intervention is underway, each member will take turns confronting the person with their planned remarks and stories, followed by the agreed upon consequences they will take if the addict does not accept the terms. Do not make declarations that you cannot follow through with.

  6. Aftermath. The work of an intervention does not end after one has accepted treatment. Attempts at remain clean are most successful when those close to the person make a sincere effort in assisting their loved one stay the course. Attend counseling with them, or spend time doing activities that serve as alternatives to using drugs and alcohol.

Treatment

Those that suffer from a severe dependence to drugs and alcohol are encouraged to do a stint in an in-patient treatment center utilizing a step-by-step approach to detoxification and counseling towards a life without drugs or alcohol. However, there are alternative methods of treatment that have been known to work for some. Best to know the options before deciding what is right for you or your loved one.

Inpatient rehabilitation centers

Anyone with a severe dependence on drugs and alcohol is best served by completing a four week inpatient program. Living in a controlled environment where the patient undergoes a step-by-step process that best ensures that they successfully detox from their drug of choice and participate in counseling that prepares them for a life after addiction.

Not all drug rehabilitation centers are created equally, however, and making the decision to check into one requires a bit of research, either for the patient himself or loved ones involved in the process. There’s a wide variance in pricing, from relatively affordable centers to those available only to the rich and famous.

What’s more, certain rehabs cater to specific age groups, genders, and lifestyles. Methodology can change from center to center, as well, even if the basic elements remain in place. Let’s take a look at the details.

Cost and funding

A thirty day stay in a drug treatment center can range from $2000 at a publicly funded center to as much as $90,000 at the high end, resort-like centers in exotic locations with large swimming pools frequented by wealthy celebrities. The median fee typically falls between $20,000 to $30,000, although depending on the patient’s insurance, this cost can be significantly reduced. Many major insurance carriers, including Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield, will provide full or partial coverage, depending on the facility.

Alcoholics and drug addicts often lack the funds to cover the considerable expense of an inpatient treatment center, or lack health insurance. For those in this category, a state-funded rehab that uses government money to pay for its services is the best--and sometimes only--option.

Duration of stay

While a stay of 28-30 days is the most common period of inpatient treatment, the amount of time necessary for recovery can vary greatly depending on the needs of the person. At the short end, there are those that stay just five days to a week in order to detox and clear their heads.

On the other end, patients or their loved ones may feel they require a much longer stay in order to build the healthy habits necessary in order to maintain a life of sobriety on the outside. Extended in-patient programs can range from 60 days to as long as six months.

Certain rehab centers offer regimented and specific schedules, whereas others allow patients to stay for as long as they feel is appropriate. The time that one spends at a rehab facility depends on the severity of the addiction and the resources available to the individual. Though, one thing is for certain: there is no such thing as an overstaying at an in-patient program. The recovery process is a vital time for healing and should not be rushed.

Detox

Before a patient can begin their stay at a treatment center, the person must undergo a detoxification process to rid themselves of the physical dependency to the drug. According to recovery.org, medically supervised detox is highly recommended for those dependent on alcohol, benzodiazepine or opiates as withdrawal from these drugs can be physically taxing or even fatal.

However, this type of monitored detox is not always necessary and the process can even be done in an outpatient situation. Once the detox is finished, the patient may move into the treatment center to begin the program.

Process

Inpatient treatment centers use a combination of therapy and (if necessary) pharmaceutical treatment to help a patient recover from addiction. Rehabs.com states that the most often used form of therapy is behavioral therapy, a three-pronged approach of individual, family, and group therapy.

Patients will often have a highly regimented schedule of various therapy sessions, along with time for recreation, exercise and other activities. High-end facilities offer services that are nearly indistinguishable from those of a resort or spa, including massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and golf.

A majority of treatment centers will have no limit on how long one can stay, as long as the checks clear. Nor do they disallow anyone from leaving early; part of the recovery process is the feeling of willing participation.

After four weeks (or however long is necessary), the patient receives clearance from the team of professionals, and if they feel ready, they can move out and carry on their recovery in the outside world.

Twelve-Step Programs

Twelve-step programs are an age old method of recovering from addiction and other compulsive behavior based on a set of guidelines first meted out in the book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism (1939).

Alcoholics Anonymous (the first twelve-step program) and others of its ilk work by urging the addiction sufferer to admit that they are powerless over a substance or dangerous behavior, and can only begin recovery through acceptance of a higher power, followed by making amends to those they harmed while in the throes of addiction.

Twelve-step programs remain highly popular as a means of addiction treatment, despite the fact that the American Society of Medicine found that only around 10% of people that participate in them recover. Though, other publications and studies report much higher success rates.

Criticism

In the 21st century, many experts find twelve-step programs to be an outdated and anachronistic method of treatment for addiction. The heavy focus on spirituality and religion (7 of the 12 steps mention a higher power) and severe attitude towards those who relapse has drawn criticism from psychologists and addiction experts.

As detailed in this Atlantic article, those in the field are more likely to recommend a personalized approach to treatment that caters to the specific needs of the patient, rather than the catch-all approach of AA and other twelve-step programs.

Due to the fact that alcohol abuse and dependence is a sliding scale, and is often coupled with other mental disorders, different treatment regimens work for different people. Nowadays, medication is often prescribed in tandem with therapy and has been shown to increase the likelihood of success.

Medical treatment

For certain drugs that result in strong physical dependence, particularly opioids and alcohol, medications are frequently used in conjunction with therapy in addiction treatment.

Methadone and Suboxone

Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has long been used to treat severe heroin and opioid addiction, both in treatment centers and specialized clinics. Methadone is a mild opioid without the strong euphoric properties and risk of overuse characteristic of heroin (particularly since it is administered in a controlled setting). It is taken orally rather than intravenously, lessening the likelihood of abuse and overdose.

A study by the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences offers proof that MMT is successful in combating severe heroin and opiate addiction, as well as in decreasing the likelihood of patients engaging in risky behavior such as needle sharing.

Yet, methadone comes with its own risks, accounting for 3,301 deaths in the US in 2015. In 2002, Suboxone (a mixture of buprenorphine and naloxone) was approved by the FDA in the treatment of opioid dependence. This drug does not activate the opioid receptors in the brain to the degree of heroin or methadone, so its effects come on moderately and reach a steady plateau. This makes it easy for patients to wean off the drug without experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms.

Medication for alcohol dependence

A number of drugs are prescribed in conjunction with or in lieu of inpatient or outpatient programs for treatment of alcohol addiction. Despite not being as well-known as twelve-step programs, their use is increasing, and doctors claim they are safe and often effective medications.

  • Antabuse (disulfiram) is the oldest drug on the market prescribed to curb cravings for alcohol. It acts by inhibiting the action of an enzyme active in processing alcohol, resulting in unpleasant hangover effects immediately after a small amount of alcohol is consumed.

  • Naltrexone is a much newer drug on the market that is used to manage alcohol abuse by blocking the positive effects of alcohol, lowering the person’s desire to continue drinking. The drug has also been used in the treatment of opioid dependency.

  • Acamprosate is the newest drug available for treating alcohol dependence. It works in a similar manner to naltrexone by reducing the positive reinforcement effects associated with drinking, while curbing withdrawal symptoms. It is most effective when used in conjunction with counseling.

Alternative treatments

In addition to FDA-approved and time-honored methods of treating addiction and dependence such as inpatient centers, twelve-step programs and pharmaceuticals, there are a handful of alternatives that haven’t had a lot of clinical research done on them, but have proven effective for many.

Ibogaine treatment

Ibogaine is a psychoactive drug found and used in traditional ceremonies in Central Africa. The drug puts the user in a hallucinogenic state for up to thirty hours. According to American Addiction Centers, ibogaine is converted into a compound called noribogaine when ingested, attacking and rewiring areas of the brain responsible for addictive behavior.

It is claimed that Ibogaine eases withdrawal symptoms and cravings for a host of drugs, including alcohol, opiates, methamphetamine, and others. There has not been a lot of clinical study done on the efficacy of ibogaine in treating addiction and the drug is illegal in the United States. Those hoping to try ibogaine to quell their addiction must go visit a treatment center in Canada or elsewhere.

Ayahuasca treatment

A strong hallucinogen usually administered in a tea, ayahuasca has been claimed to be an effective treatment for drug addiction. Said to work in a similar fashion as ibogaine by “rewiring” the brain’s addiction and pleasure centers, ayahuasca trips are intense, and occasionally traumatic experiences. There are first-person testimonials praising its use in treating addiction, though there is little clinical research available on its use in this fashion. Like, ibogaine, the drug is illegal in the U.S., spurring many take trips to countries in South America home to shaman-run ayahuasca retreats.

Kratom

Kratom is an herb derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree with both opiate and stimulant-like properties. It is available for purchase in various concentrations in the United States on the internet and at head shops. Used in traditional medicine for at least 200 years, it has recently caught on as a substitute for opioids in treating chronic pain as well as a method of cutting down or quitting heavy opioids or heroin.

In fact, a recent survey found that around 70% of those using kratom were doing so for this purpose. Again, like other substances on this list, little official research on its effectiveness exists at this time, and it carries its own risk of abuse, but many swear by it. For those that have exhausted other approaches, or aren’t ready to invest in a rehab stay, it’s worth a shot.

Using cannabis and its derivatives to wean off of opiates

With the nation suffering at the hands of an opioid epidemic, many are turning to alternative sources to combat their pain and treat their dependence on dangerous drugs. With the increase in states legalizing or decriminalizing cannabis use for medicinal and recreation purposes, many find the drug to be an effective and less habit-forming alternative. CBD (cannabidiol) is a derivative of cannabis lacking the euphoric effects of THC that is proven to block opioid receptors in the brain, and many have begun to use it for this purpose.

Rapid detox

Rapid detox is a process combining heavy sedation and the administration of certain drugs to rapidly detox a patient, ridding them of opioid dependence and withdrawal symptoms within a matter of days. However, the treatment has resulted in a number of fatalities and the medical world at large has concluded that it just isn’t safe. Use of this treatment has been discouraged and it is no longer widely practiced.

Quitting cold turkey

Quitting “cold turkey” refers to quitting a substance without pharmaceutical or therapeutic assistance. It is still occasionally recommended as a means of quitting smoking, but for heavier drugs, the practice has a low success rate and is not encouraged.

Meditation

Daily meditation has been shown to rewire the brain’s neural connections, and is a great component in a well-rounded approach to treating addiction, but should be used in combination with other methods of treatment.

Food addiction and treatment

Drug and alcohol are not the only types of addiction people in the United States suffer from. In fact, more people than ever are afflicted with food addiction or some related disorder. In 2017, obesity and related conditions became the number one cause of preventable death in the country.

It may not be as easy to recognize the effects of food addiction and overeating as easy as in certain types of drug addiction, but like any other form of addiction, the consequences of food addiction can be serious and life threatening.

  • Heart disease.

  • High cholesterol.

  • Loss of mobility.

  • Sleep apnea.

  • Stroke.

  • Type 2 diabetes.

The Eating Recovery Center is the best online resource for those suffering from food addiction and other eating disorders. They’ll help you identify your problematic behavior and direct you to the type of care you need, or a specific treatment center, if necessary.

Facts and figures

How many people require addiction treatment in the United States?

According to the latest data from the SAMHSA conducted National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), around 21 million people over the age of 12 required treatment for substance abuse in 2016. However, only 3.8 million people in that age group (1.4% of the population) actually received some form of treatment. 2.2 million received treatment in a specialty facility (i.e. inpatient rehab center).

Of those categorized by the NSDUH as “needing” treatment (those diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder), only about 10% sought treatment in a specialty facility.

How successful are treatment centers? What is the relapse rate?

It’s difficult to arrive at a precise number regarding relapses, but the NIDA reports that 40% to 60% of those that undergo treatment for drug and alcohol addiction experience some type of relapse. Relapsing is not a death sentence: recovering from addiction is a lifetime struggle and one should not give up in the face of a one-time or temporary slip-up.

How many treatment centers are there in the U.S., per state?

The 2017 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services reports that there are 14,166 total treatment facilities in the United States. Of these, around 8,000 are private non-profit centers, 4,000 for-profit facilities and over 2,000 state sponsored centers financed by state or federal agencies. However, only 20% of these are inpatient treatment centers, with the rest being outpatient and serving the great majority of those seeking treatment.

What are the top rehab centers in the U.S.?

Rehabs.com has a list of the top rehab centers in the United States. The ratings are based on overall success rate and a number of other criteria.

How much does the government spend on drug treatment?

According to the latest 2018 budget report, the federal government spend $9.85 billion on drug abuse treatment in 2016, which is 36.6% percent of the total spent on “drug control” in that fiscal year. This nearly matches the $9.28 spent on domestic law enforcement of drug laws. A further $1.49 billion was spent on drug use prevention.

Living a sober life after treatment

Sober living homes

For those that have completed a treatment program but still feel they need additional support in their daily lives, there are sober living homes. Sober living homes are different than rehabs in that inhabitants are free to come and go as they wish, pay rent, and buy food for themselves.

There are certain conditions for living in these homes. Residents must lead a sober life, never bring intoxicants into the premises and agree to occasional drug tests. Some homes may require residents to attend regular twelve-step meetings in order to stay. Overall, sober living homes are a great means for recovering addicts and alcoholics to ease back into normal life.

SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training)

SMART is a support program for recovering addicts that serves as a popular alternative to traditional twelve-step programs. It specializes in helping recovering addicts in the long term management of cravings and desires. In contrast to the twelve-step programs’ central ethos of confessing powerlessness, SMART’s 4-point program focuses on empowerment and building strength and motivation.

Dealing with relapse

Even when recovering addicts do their best to stay on track and remain sober, relapses can and do happen. The NIDA estimates that 40% to 60% of recovering addicts and alcoholics will experience one or more periods of relapse. Yet, a relapse does not mean that all the work towards living a sober life has been negated. Recovery is a continual process and a relapse is only a temporary setback.

Addictioncenter.com has a useful page on what to do in case of relapse. They suggest that continuous relapses indicate the need for a person to admit themselves back into an inpatient treatment program. Relapsing also suggests certain behavioral or mental health issues at the core of the substance abuse have not been dealt with. Often, cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients to analyze and eliminate the kind of thinking that leads to bad decisions and substance abuse.

Resources for addicts and family members of addicts

Al-Anon and Alateen

  • Al-Anon and Alateen are associated programs offering support to friends and family members of persons suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. The group isn’t focused on getting help for addicts, but rather for assisting those that have lived with or around those with a problem. Local chapters worldwide regularly hold meetings where small groups (no more than twenty-five) can discuss the traumas associated with living with alcoholics and addicts.

Rehabs.com

  • The best website for finding a rehab facility that will work for you or your loved one. Their expansive database has treatment centers in all fifty states that offer treatment and counseling for all manner of addictions, including alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and others. They also offer advice on the steps to take when you feel it is time to seek treatment.

hazeldenbettyford.org

  • The website for two of the most trusted and long running treatment centers in the United States, Hazelden and the Betty Ford Center, that combined in 2014. Together, Hazelden Betty Ford is the largest non-profit treatment organization in the nation. The site is a source of information for all aspects of addiction. They provide help and resources for families, including how to recognize when someone close to you is suffering from addiction. For those seeking treatment at one of their many inpatient and outpatient centers, the site is easy to use and quite useful.

Americanaddictioncenters.org

  • Another great online resource providing educational material on recognizing abuse and addiction, 24/7 online counseling and online admission for all of the treatment centers affiliated with American Addiction Centers.

drugabuse.gov

  • The website for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A top source for all of the latest drug abuse and addiction related clinical studies and statistics. Provides resources for those looking for treatment, as well as those interested in participating in a study.

therecoveryvillage.com

  • A family of associated of treatment centers focused on treating alcohol, drug and food addiction with information and guidance on how to join one of their many facilities all over the U.S.

Books

Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson

  • A harrowing collection of short stories centered on the misadventures of an unnamed narrator and a collection of hard drinking, drug addled misfits. Jesus’ Son perfectly captures the feelings of hopelessness and frozen time characteristic of addiction. Johnson, who died in 2017, spent his twenties as a drug addict and alcoholic before getting clean and devoting his life to writing acclaimed novels and short stories.

Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola

  • Hepola’s memoir recounts her years attempting to balance her life as a successful writer in Manhattan with an all consuming desire for nightlife and alcohol. She often drinks to the point of blackout, finding herself in dangerous situations and waking up in strange places with no memory of the night before. An unflinching and relatable memoir for anyone who has struggled with abuse and addiction.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

  • A massive, sprawling tome of over 1,000 pages. What gets lost in the discussion of DFW’s opus is the fact that it contains some of the rawest, uncensored and life-like depictions of drug addiction and life in treatment facilities found in fiction.

Hotlines

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP

  • A free and confidential information service open all hours of the day, every day of the year, SAMHSA’s helpline specializing in transferring addicts to local support services so they can find the treatment they need.

The Recovery Village’s Addiction and Alcohol Hotline, 1-888-751-3362

  • Another toll-free 24 hour hotline that specializes in counseling alcoholics in finding appropriate treatment.

Message boards

r/addiction

  • Reddit’s active addiction message board. An excellent source for addicts and recovering addicts of all stripes to seek advice and share stories of addiction and recovery.

Addiction Recovery Guide Message Board

  • A fairly active board for those to share their stories of drug abuse and seeking treatment. The message board is broken up to separate sections for each particular drug and includes a board for other non alcohol or drug related addictions and one for family members of addicts.

Sober Recovery Forums

  • A large online community of over 150K engaging in discussion in an extensive number of forums covering a broad number of topics related to addiction. Members of the community can seek advice, debate the best methods of treatment, tell jokes and anecdotes related to addiction and recovery, and much more.

Apps

SoberTool

  • SoberTool is an app available for iOS and Android that allows you to mark the days since you’ve been clean and sober, as well as keep track of the estimated money you’ve saved by not buying drugs and alcohol.

Nomo

  • Nomo is a useful multifaceted app for recovering addictions that, in addition to tracking your sobriety and money saved, allows you to get in touch with other users to build your own support group and grants awards for reaching milestones. Nomo boasts over 100,000 users and is rapidly growing.

Pear reSET

  • The first FDA approved app for treatment of addiction (or any disease) developed by Pear Therapeutics, Pear reSET is unique in that the app is only available via prescription. The app is a comprehensive, personally specialized 12 week program with lessons and regular check-ins.

Headspace

  • Meditation is a great practice and an effective means of treating the cravings and depressive moods that come along with recovery. An app is a great way to track your meditation progress, and Headspace is one of the most popular. After a ten day free trial, membership to the app costs $7.99 a month. Headspace offers guided and issue-specific meditations.

Safest and Most Dangerous Countries for Travel

The world is smaller than ever before. Cheapening costs, the unprecedented ease of communication and spread of information complements of the internet and social media, (relative) global peace and competition for the most striking, exotic Instagram posts have all contributed to a dramatic surge in international travel in recent years, with travel bloggers being in the top 5 users of Instagram stories.  

International tourist arrivals hit a record 1.2 billion in 2015, the sixth year in a row to see growth in the category, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. As travel to countries once considered remote and mysterious, such as Vietnam or Burma, has grown increasingly common, the buildup of tourist infrastructure, i.e., hostels, pizza restaurants, homestays, and internet cafes to accommodate the emergent hordes of young backpackers and capitalize on the profit potential, has boomed in tandem. Travel destinations that once felt daring and adventurous now seem mundane and overly congested with likeminded, wanderlust-stricken millennials.

Consequentially, more and more travelers are hoofing it to far-flung, distant locales off the well-trodden backpacker itinerary in search of novel experiences and interaction with alien cultures. In essence, there’s nothing wrong with this, but the bottom line is that there are some countries that people just shouldn’t visit as the potential dangers are just too great. On the opposite side of the spectrum, many find any and all international travel daunting, treacherous and beyond their capabilities.

In order to educate and guide people on both sides of this divide, we’ve ranked 121 countries in terms of their safety for travelers. We’ve based our findings on a number of factors, including crime rates, government travel advisories, the potential for natural disasters, and the competitiveness and sustainability of each country’s tourist industry.

You can find the whole list below, but first we’d like to go in-depth on the top ten most dangerous places to travel, and what makes them so dangerous, in order to dissuade reckless thrill seekers. After that, we’ll run through the top ten safest places to travel in hopes of convincing those wary of 12 hour flights and salads that make liberal use of fish sauce that international travel can be safe and relatively stress free.

Top Ten Most Dangerous Countries for Travel

10. Colombia

While the beautiful, ecologically diverse South American nation has come a long way from its violent late 80’s/early 90’s nadir--when the Pablo Escobar-led Medellin drug cartel waged open war with the federal government, earning it the title of murder capital of the world--tourists heading to Colombia should still take caution.

Despite that fact that formerly dangerous cities such as Bogota and Medellin are now considered safe for travelers, drug cartels and the paramilitary group FARC (boasting an estimated 10,000 members) still maintain control over many remote and forested regions of the country. Even in recent years, FARC has openly battled with the Colombian military, committing kidnappings, trafficking drugs and executing large scale terrorist attacks. Because of this, much of the country is considered off-limits for tourism. Additionally, bus travel on certain highways is strongly discouraged as gangs and ?guerrillas have been known to hijack buses, robbing and even murdering the passengers within.

However, a recent ceasefire between FARC and the Colombian government is cause for hope, as the group has promised to lay down its arms and discontinue its terrorist practices. What’s more, Colombia’s 2016 homicide rate of 24.4 out of 100,000 is the lowest since 1974. Tourists should not be discouraged from traveling to Colombia and enjoying its beautiful landscapes and vibrant cities, but its best to stick to the beaten path and not venture into high risk areas.

9. Lesotho

The diminutive African nation of Lesotho, located entirely within the confines of South Africa, is a very dangerous destination for tourists. While organized crime is not a serious issue in the country, high levels of poverty and unemployment have led to extremely high crime rates and travelers are frequently targeted in assaults and robberies, even in heavily populated areas in broad daylight.

Furthermore, Lesotho has one of the highest HIV rates in the world: an estimated 25% of the adult population are carriers of the virus. Engaging in sexual activity in any fashion is a huge no-no. Compounding the hazards, medical facilities in Lesotho are very poor and ill-equipped. In the case of injury or illness, receiving adequate treatment in the country is a very difficult prospect.

8. Nigeria

In recent years, travel to the West African nation Nigeria has been extremely hazardous and ill-advised. In April 2017, the U.S. Government issued a travel warning cautioning all citizens to avoid all but the most necessary travel to the country due to the high frequency of robberies, sexual assaults and other dangers.

The Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram is a dominating presence in the northwest part of the country, and frequently targets churches, schools and government offices in sweeping and catastrophic attacks. In 2015, the fearsome organization achieved the dubious honor of unseating ISIS as the most dangerous terrorist group in the world. Responsible for an unbelievable 6073 deaths in 2014, Boko Haram’s reign of terror should be enough to dissuade anyone from traveling to Nigeria.

It’s a shame since the country’s landscape is rich and biodiverse, offering savannahs, tropical rainforest and mangrove swamps. Moreover, Nigeria’s traditional of art and music is deep and endlessly fascinating. Nevertheless, tourists ought to wait until the threat posed by Boko Haram and other militant groups is dramatically reduced before even considering travel to the country.

7. Burundi

Burundi is another African nation that poses serious dangers to prospective tourists. The U.S. State Department issued a warning in June urging Americans against travel to the country due its shaky political situation and high threat of violence.

Burundi’s borders are porous and poorly defended, resulting in many roving gangs and militia groups from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo entering at will and launching attacks against Burundians and visitors to the country. The threat is so great that 325,000 Burundians have evacuated their home nation in the past two years for safer neighboring countries.

Because of the chaos and unpredictable vehicular ambushes, roadways are heavily restricted and automotive travel throughout the country is severely limited, if not impossible. That should be enough to discourage travelers from visiting the country for the foreseeable future.

6. Mali

Sadly, Mali is yet another African nation with such a high risk for attacks, armed robberies and other dangers that tourism is simply infeasible. Extremist organizations with links to Al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups have waged an open war of terror in the capital city of Bamako, targeting foreigners in hotels, nightclubs, mosques and other places once considered safe. The Mali government has recently extended its state of emergency due to the situation and, unfortunately, hope for an end to the violence is dim, as terrorist activity in the country is expected to continue or even increase in the near future.

Kidnapping, either for ransom money or for religious motives is also an omnipresent threat, and a number of U.S. citizens are believed to be held captive in the country. In short: stay the hell out of Mali.

5. Mauritania

Mauritania, just west of Mali, is another nation that has been plagued by terrorist violence during the past decade. ISIS and other lethal terrorist groups have a strong foothold in the country, they are known to attack and murder foreigners affiliated with aid groups and western governments without prejudice and have openly declared their intention to continue such practices. Members of christian missionary groups are targets, as well.

The high density of terrorist activity in several portions of the eastern half of the country has provoked the government to declare it a restricted area, and people must obtain special permission from the government in order to travel into the region, although it’s highly unlikely that anybody would like to do so. Best to avoid Mauritania entirely until the situation improves.

4. Chad

Like many of its neighbors, the impoverished Central African nation of Chad is experiencing a wave of violence and terror at the hands of jihadist fanatic groups like Boko Haram and other fearsome paramilitary organizations.

In 2015, Boko Harem kick started a vicious campaign in Chad with an attack on a fishing village on the banks of Lake Chad resulting in several deaths. The Chadian military has engaged in war with the group ever since, to little positive effect. For those not wishing to get caught in the crossfire of this conflict, it is strongly advised that you stay away from Chad for the time being.

Other potential threats to foreign visitors include the regularity of kidnapping for ransom collection and the numerous minefields near the Sudanese border. Plus, it’s really, really hot, disease is rampant, and food is scarce.

3. Pakistan

In a welcome break from impoverished African nations enveloped in conflict with terrorist groups, number three on our list of most dangerous tourist destinations is Pakistan, the South Asian nation known for its decades-old rivalry with neighboring India and as the final hideaway of Osama bin Laden.

However, Pakistan has something in common with the aforementioned beleaguered African countries: it is awash in ideologically motivated violence. Sectarian skirmishes and terrorist bombings targeting civilians are depressingly routine. Suicide bombings with death tolls in the dozens are the norm, not the exception.

This year, several high profile attacks--including a devastating suicide bombing outside a shrine in the historic city of Sehwan took the lives of 90 people and injured over 300 more for which ISIS took responsibility—have brought the country to its knees and prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a stern travel warning urging foreigners living in or traveling to Pakistan to exercise extreme caution. It is clear that foreigners are specifically targeted by terrorist groups in both killings and kidnappings.

Violence is so out of control and unpredictable that many areas of the country are simply off limits to travelers—and significantly—for U.S. government officials as well.

The unfortunate thing is that Pakistanis, by large, are a peaceful and friendly people. The country’s murder rate is considerably lower than that of other countries that many would consider safer, such as Russia, along with many urban areas of the United States.

Nevertheless, strong anti-western sentiment, a pervasive contempt for LGBTQ folks and numerous environmental hazards, including the potential for flash floods and earthquakes to cause serious damage and loss of life in major cities like Karachi (due to crumbling, inadequate infrastructure and nonexistent drainage systems) contribute to Pakistan’s precariousness and instability. Definitely not a backpacker hotspot.

2. El Salvador

A small nation with a infamous reputation for violence, even by Central American standards, El Salvador is a place where danger lurks around every corner.

In part due to a long, demoralizing civil war between El Salvador’s right wing military-centric government (backed by the U.S.) and a number of leftist rebel groups that lasted for twelve years between 1979 and 1992 and resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, El Salvador is inundated with surplus weaponry and at the mercy of vicious and sadistic street gangs, notably MS-13 and Barrio 18.

These gangs openly engage in kidnapping, drug dealing, car jackings (as well as bus jackings) to a degree that law enforcement simply cannot cope with. Unsurprisingly, El Salvadorians themselves are the biggest victims of the chaos, and a 2016 Central American University poll found that 24.5% of Salvadorians became victims of a violence crime in 2015. While foreigners are not specifically targeted, it’s easy to get caught in the crossfire of a gang war or be preyed upon in a random attack.

In addition to the threat of violence, El Salvador is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, which cause floods and sudden mudslides.

Even though its murder rate has dipped in recent years, owing to a nationwide military campaign to combat gang activity, backpackers heading through Central America are strongly advised to skip this stop.

1. Honduras

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Honduras comes at number one in the rankings for most dangerous travel destinations. For the past decade, the Central American nation has suffered from one of the worst homicide rates in the world. Since 2017, there have been 47 murders of U.S. citizens in the country, including 4 in 2016, and many more tourists have been robbed or assaulted, even in resort areas and other places considered safe.

Much of the violence is attributed to the presence of dominant street gangs such as MS-13 unhesitant to use extreme measures such as kidnapping, home invasion and even holding up public buses in order to amass funds. The gangs even control a number of the taxi services, and use that to their advantage to rob and extort unwitting customers. While criminal organizations in many countries tend to leave tourists alone, in Honduras, everyone is a target. What’s worse, the underfunded, ill-equipped police force does not have the resources to effectively fight back.

Honduras’s roads are another hazard: they are poorly maintained and traffic signs are imprecise or simply nonexistent. Local drivers often fail to obey traffic rules, speeding and passing in dangerous situations. Defense driving is a must.

Although there signs of improvement; the 2016 homicide rate of 59.1 murders per 100,000 people is down from 2011’s whopping 86.5 per 100,000, its best for tourists to avoid this country altogether.

Now that all you thrill junkies are sufficiently chastened, let’s count down the top ten safest countries for tourism.

Top Ten Safest Countries for Travel

10. Australia

The “land down under” is one of the safest destinations in the world for travelers. Compared to the United States, crime rates are very low, particularly for violent crime, as the U.S.’s rate of 4.7 incidents per 100k is a whopping four times higher than Australia’s. Furthermore, Australia’s homicide rate has steadily decreased in recent years, hitting a record low of 1 per 100,000 in the most recent findings. Tourists can rest easy knowing that the chances of being assaulted or killed in the country are next to none.

Australia is also generally safe from the threat of natural disasters, although occasional heat waves and bush fires in the country’s arid interior have been known to take lives. And while the country is infamous for being home to some of the most poisonous animals in the world, like the box jellyfish, with venom that can shut down a person’s nervous system in minutes, as well as 21 of the 25 most poisonous snakes in existence, very few people die each year from animal bites or stings. Exercising the proper caution should keep you safe. Perishing in a car crash is far more likely.

9. Norway

Norway--along with the rest of its Scandinavian neighbors--is extremely safe and violent crime is nearly unheard of. Police in the country don’t even carry guns. Despite the one dark spot in the nation’s recent history, travelers to the icy northern land can count on safety and the opportunity to interact with some of the most friendly and helpful people on earth.

The one area for concern is Norway’s frosty climate. According to the U.S. State Department, road conditions outside of Oslo can be treacherous, depending on weather conditions. Exposure is another concern, so don’t get drunk and pass out in a snow bank.

8. Canada

It is often claimed that that Canucks have a rate of gun ownership comparable to that of the United States, but with a drastically lower homicide rate. This is not quite true, as the U.S.’s 89 guns per 100 residents is far higher than Canada’s 31 per 100k, but it is true that the discrepancy in murder rates is significant. At around 2 per 100k, Canada’s homicide rate is less than half of its southern neighbor.

While there are some pockets of Toronto that might be considered less than safe, tourists would really have to go out of their way to find themselves in a dangerous situation. Canada is an overwhelmingly safe travel destination.

Reading that thousands of avalanches occur in Canada each year may seem concerning, but they mostly occur in remote northern areas where no reasonable person would set foot and pose no significant threat to travelers. Like Norway, the one noteworthy concern is the temperature. It can get pretty cold, so be sure to pack those long johns.

7. Germany

Yes, the recent influx of Syrian refugees into Germany has perpetuated something of a panic, but the actual threat posed by the recent migrants is drastically lower than sensationalist news media outlets would lead you to believe. Germany is a very safe country, and its people are honest to a fault and most would not think of scamming or misleading a visitor to the country.

Additionally, its geographical location protects Germany from any sort of natural disaster. The country is so short on threats that the U.S. State Department actually warns about roving bands of “hooligans” (their words, not mine), so I suppose that’s something to lookout for. Perhaps it’s best to steer clear of the area around Volksparkstadion stadium in Hamburg after the beloved Hamburger SV football club suffers a heartbreaking loss against traditional rivals, Werder Bremen.

6. France

In recent years, France has suffered several devastating terrorist attacks, the most severe of which being the heartbreaking 2015 mass shooting at the Bataclan theatre that coincided with several other bombings in Paris on the same day.

With these notable incidents in mind, it may be hard to believe that France belongs in a list of the top ten safest tourist destinations. However, France is the most visited country in the world, attracting over 80 million tourists from all over the world in a given year. The overwhelming majority (99.99% or more) of these travelers enjoy their trips in complete safety, thanks to a well-developed tourist infrastructure and a very low crime rate.

Of course, terrorist attacks command public attention and stoke fear; that is what they are designed to do. Nobody should be criticized for factoring these incidents into their travel plans, but it’s important to consider the extreme statistical unlikelihood of becoming a victim in such an attack. By most statistical measures, American visitors to France are safer during the duration of their trip than they are in their daily lives back home.

5. United Kingdom

As with France, several high profile incidents of terror have rocked the U.K. in the past half-decade, yet also like France, the country (yes, it’s technically one country, but also, like, several countries at the same time?) is overwhelmingly safe, statistically speaking, drawing tens of millions of visitors a year that tour the country without incident.

From 2000 to 2017, 126 people were killed in the United Kingdom as a result of terrorist attacks. By contrast, 372 were killed in such attacks in 1988 alone.

It may seem like I’m beating this to death, but it’s important to stress how media coverage and fearmongering distorts our perception of the actual potential for danger.

By any approximation, the U.K. is a safe place: the homicide rate is super low, gun ownership is practically non-existent (handguns are completely illegal), temperatures are mild (if a bit nippy), and dangerous and/or poisonous animals are nowhere to be found unlike its former prison colony across the globe.

4. Spain

Analogous to its Western European neighbors, Spain is a very safe country for tourists to visit. The birthplace of flamenco music and cold, refreshing gazpacho reported a 2016 homicide rate of just 0.66 people out of 100,000, good enough for second lowest in the EU and besting those of the eminently safe East Asian nations of Taiwan and South Korea. Also, Spain has somehow avoided steered clear of large scale terrorist attacks like those occurring in France and the U.K recently.

Considering the sheer of volume of foreign visitors (including those who work online jobs while traveling), Spain attracts each year without incident, Spain has a remarkable safety record. Travelers to the nation have very little to worry about, other than a heightened risk of pickpocketing and other petty crime in some touristy areas.

3. Japan

There are few countries on Earth where one can leave a bike unlocked in public for a week and come back to find it untouched, but Japan is one of them. For myriad reasons, the Land of the Rising Sun is one of the safest travel destinations on the planet. Theft is nearly unheard of, drug use is extremely scarce (and heavily punished) and the homicide rate of about 0.3 people per 100,000 is among the lowest in the developed world. Crime and murder are so suspiciously rare that a wealth of academic studies have been published in hopes of determining the reason behind it.

With an uber-friendly, polite (albeit shy) populace and virtually zero chance of becoming the victim of a crime, it goes without saying that Japan is nearly unparalleled in terms of safety for tourists. The only knock against it is its vulnerability towards earthquakes and tsunamis.

2. Singapore

World famous for its spotless sidewalks, broad-spectrum orderliness and--let’s face it,--draconian punishments for relatively minor crimes, Singapore is definitely one of the safest countries in the world. As long as people don’t spit gum out on the street or spray paint a train car—criminal offenses that may illicit a caning in the small city state--travelers would be hard pressed to find a more secure travel destination on the planet.

Whether you agree with the Singapore government’s authoritarian approach or not, the fact that its crime rates are basically the lowest in the world are evidence that it is effective. The one area of concern, according to Singapore law enforcement, is the recent increase in online scams, particularly sex-for-credit scams, but only lonely suckers fall for those.

1. Hong Kong

Technically a part of China, but with its own distinct laws, government and culture, Hong Kong is another East Asian destination where a woman or man can walk any street at any time of day or night without fear. With low (and continually declining) crime rates comparable to those of Japan and Singapore, yet without the authoritarian government of the latter or the risk of natural disaster in the former, Hong Kong is the safest place for tourists on Earth.

With a substantial and well-developed tourist sector, widespread use of English, and a fast, efficient and modern subway system, travelers to Hong Kong will continuously feel at ease.

The one strike against Hong Kong’s safety rating is its vulnerability to disease epidemics, as in the case of the 2003 SARS scar. This vulnerability stems from its humid, subtropical climate, high population density, and proximity to the Guangdong Province of China, where people eat anything that has four legs that isn’t a table and everything that flies that isn’t an airplane, culinary tendencies that increase the likelihood of a virus transferring from animal to human. Still, such outbreaks are few and far between, and not enough to knock Hong Kong off from its perch as the safest place to travel.

The following metrics were taken into account when creating this ranking: Crime, Security, Tourism, and Natural Disasters.

Rank (safest to dangerous)Country
1Hong Kong SAR
2Singapore
3Japan
4Spain
5United Kingdom
6France
7Germany
8Canada
9Norway
10Australia
11United Arab Emirates
12Sweden
13United States
14Italy
15Switzerland
16Finland
17Austria
18New Zealand
19Ireland
20Iceland
21Malta
22Denmark
23Netherlands
24Luxembourg
25China
26Greece
27Portugal
28Malaysia
29Qatar
30Belgium
31Estonia
32Croatia
33Czech Republic
34Panama
35Indonesia
36Chile
37Cyprus
38Bulgaria
39Poland
40Barbados
41Slovenia
42Bahrain
43Costa Rica
44Mauritius
45Hungary
46Azerbaijan
47Lithuania
48Latvia
49Argentina
50Brazil
51India
52Thailand
53Peru
54Morocco
55Turkey
56Jordan
57Armenia
58Kuwait
59Bhutan
60Kazakhstan
61Montenegro
62Oman
63Georgia
64Romania
65Tunisia
66Botswana
67Sri Lanka
68Albania
69Ecuador
70Vietnam
71Uruguay
72Rwanda
73Saudi Arabia
74Tanzania
75Trinidad and Tobago
76Serbia
77Gabon
78Zambia
79South Africa
80Senegal
81Ghana
82Israel
83Mexico
84Namibia
85Bosnia and Herzegovina
86Uganda
87Cambodia
88Benin
89Bolivia
90Malawi
91Tajikistan
92Mongolia
93Ethiopia
94Zimbabwe
95Moldova
96Ukraine
97Lebanon
98Dominican Republic
99Kenya
100Nicaragua
101Cameroon
102Nepal
103Sierra Leone
104Madagascar
105Paraguay
106Mozambique
107Bangladesh
108Jamaica
109Philippines
110Guatemala
111Algeria
112Colombia
113Lesotho
114Nigeria
115Burundi
116Mali
117Mauritania
118Chad
119Pakistan
120El Salvador
121Honduras

The Most Dangerous States for Online Dating

dangeronlinedating_op1

Online dating has gone mainstream. Research shows 40 million Americans use dating apps to find a relationship, according to eHarmony.

The growing popularity of online dating makes it the most popular way for couples to connect. The more traditional ways to meet people, like through family, friends, or at local gathering places like church, have been on the decline since 1940, according to research from Stanford.

Thirty-nine percent of heterosexual American couples met through online dating in 2019, according to Stanford, up from 22% in 2009.

While many people find relationships through today’s tech, it’s not always a pleasant experience. In fact, online dating can be downright dangerous. Not everyone online is looking for love. Some people use the sites to look for victims. Research shows:

  • 10% of sex offenders use dating sites
  • 1 in 10 users on free dating apps are scammers 
  • Sexual assaults linked to online dating platforms have grown six-fold in the last five years [Source]

As more people turn to online dating platforms, safety concerns will continue to grow. It’s important for every citizen – no matter where they live – to understand the risks of online dating. As a helpful tool, backgroundchecks.org crunched data, some of which included cybercrime statistics, romantic fraud rates, and violent crime stemming from online interactions, to see which states are more dangerous for online dating. Here’s what we found:

Alaska is the most dangerous state for online dating

People looking for love in Alaska, beware. The Frontier State ranks as the most dangerous state for online dating.

Each state was given a danger score. Alaska’s score is 12x higher than the safest state on the list.

Why is Alaska so dangerous? There are many factors, but Alaska has a high rate of romance fraud. Overall, there were 85 reported cases of romance fraud in 2018, according to the FBI, which correlates to the highest number of victims per capita in the U.S. In addition, Alaskans lost an estimated $1 million to online dating scams.

Vermont is the safest state for online dating

Four thousand miles away from Alaska is the safest state for online dating: Vermont. The state has the lowest danger score, making it the least risky state to meet someone through a dating app.

Why is Vermont so safe? There are a lot of factors, but Vermont has just 25 reported cases of online fraud in 2018, with reported losses just below $130,000. In comparison to Alaska, with 85 cases and losses north of $1 million, Vermont’s online dating scene is quite a bit safer.   

Top 5 most dangerous states for online dating

Alaska is a daunting place to find an online date, but there are other states that are setting off warning bells too. Nevada and California make the list of perilous states to find a mate online. Here’s a look at the five most dangerous states for online dating:

  1. Alaska
  2. Nevada
  3. California
  4. Florida
  5. Colorado

Top 5 safest states for online dating

Online dating in Vermont is the safest, but there are other states where online dating is less likely to result in being scammed, lied to, or physically harmed. West Virginia and Montana also have low danger scores. Here’s a look at the five safest states for online dating:

  1. Vermont
  2. West Virginia
  3. Montana
  4. New Hampshire
  5. Maine

Online dating dangers: Which states are the most alarming?

The level of online dating danger varies across the U.S. To find out how dangerous your state is, check the heat map below. States in dark red are the most dangerous. States in light red are the safest. 

most dangerous states for online dating

Trends in dangerous dating data

While compiling data to explore the dangers of online dating by state, several trends emerged that are worth noting.

  • 19 states are considered dangerous

Research shows 19 states have a danger score that’s higher than average. Put simply, online dating is dangerous for 38% of residents across the U.S.

  • 30 states are considered safe

Research shows 30 states have a danger score that’s less than average. With 30 states registering lower scores, it correlates to a safe online world for about 62% of Americans.

  • Safest states are in the eastern U.S.

Four out five of the safest states for online dating are in the east. Vermont, West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Maine are all on the Eastern side of the states. While the data doesn’t provide an explanation for this, it is interesting to point out.

Tips to stay safe while dating online

Whether you live in California or Connecticut, dating apps and dating app development companies are on the rise and expanding. Nevertheless, everyone should take certain precautions when dating online. Here are some safety tips to follow when online dating:

  • Run a Google search

One of the first things dating app users should do is Google the person they’re speaking with. After reading through the posts for anything alarming, run a separate search, “search by image” on Google. If the person’s image is attached to multiple identities, you’re likely dealing with a scammer.

  • Get a Google Voice Number

Rather than give out your personal cell number, get a free number from Google Voice. Calls and texts still come through your cell phone, but the number is different. It makes it easier to block calls if needed.

  • Check the person’s social accounts

After connecting with someone online, take a look at his or her social accounts. Any account with a low number of friends or a lack of photos including family or friends is likely fake.

  • Run a background check

Before meeting someone, it’s a good idea to run a background check. It might sound like a little much, but given the amount of criminal activity that’s fostered through online dating sites, it’s a wise move (shockingly, around 18% of people have run a background check on their dates). backgroundchecks.org offers a free online directory of public records to search. 

  • Meet in a public place

A first date shouldn’t be a movie night in your home. If you’re ready to meet someone in person, do it in public. A restaurant or coffee shop is a good choice. You shouldn’t give out your address until you’ve established a trusted relationship.

  • Don’t drink a pre-ordered drink

If you arrive at a bar for date and there’s already a drink waiting for you, it’s a red flag. To be on the safe side, order your own drinks and watch them being delivered.

  • Have a bailout plan

If you go on a date, let a friend know where you are. Plus, create a code word with a friend as an escape plan. For example, if you text your friend, “Having a great time,” it means she should call you immediately with an “emergency” that forces you to leave. This plan works for a variety of dating problems, from a boring date to a scary one.

Some people even turn phone location apps on so friends can track their whereabouts, as an additional safety precaution.

  • Drive separately

During an initial get-to-know-you phase, you should always drive separately. Getting into a stranger’s car comes with risks, so drive to and from the date in your own car. If you decide to make multiple stops, like from a restaurant to the movie theater, drive separately. Riding together should wait until a relationship is established.

  • Trust your gut

If something feels off – trust it. Some people are so worried about being rude that they ignore their gut feeling that something’s wrong. Safety is more important than good manners.

Wrap up

Online dating has created an entirely new way for people to meet. With a few taps and swipes, dating apps make it possible to spark relationships between people that may never have met otherwise. While the wonders of online dating are great, safety should always remain a priority.

Online dating is more dangerous is certain states than it is in others. Alaska, for example, is a risky state to start an online romance, while Vermont is safest.

Regardless of which state a person lives in, everyone should take a safety-first mentality when it comes to online dating.

Methodology

We used the following six variables to compute a ‘Danger index of online dating’.  We assigned equal weights to these variables and computed a weighted average score for each state. The higher the danger score, the more dangerous it is. The ranking of the states by the Online Dating Danger score is shown below. (Iowa and the District of Columbia were excluded due to missing data.)

  • Romance Fraud Internet crime complaints by State. In Confidence/Romance Fraud, A perpetrator deceives a victim into believing the perpetrator and the victim have a trust relationship, whether family, friendly or romantic. As a result of that belief, the victim is persuaded to send money, personal and financial information, or items of value to the perpetrator or to launder money on behalf of the perpetrator. Some variations of this scheme are romance/dating scams or the grandparent’s scam. From those pages, we compiled data on states and territories on these variables:
    • Victim Count
    • Victim Loss (in $)
    • Subject Count
    • Subject Loss (in $)
  • Rape Crime statistics by State(We used “Rate per  100,000 population”)
  • STD prevalence by State. (We used “Rate per 100,000 population”)
RankStateRomance Fraud Victim per 100KRomance Fraud Victim Loss per 100KRomance Fraud Subject Count per 100KRomance Fraud Subject Loss per 100KSTDsNumber of Reported Rape CasesDanger score
1Alaska11.5$146,1122.2$120,436832.5161.60.82
2Nevada8.4$207,0523.0$31,34258476.80.61
3California5.3$182,9142.6$112,831585.339.20.54
4Florida5.6$96,5083.4$94,121499.239.60.48
5Colorado6.6$83,9743.2$51,343519.471.50.48
6New Mexico6.7$124,5021.3$94,986670.564.60.47
7Delaware5.0$95,8731.4$169,171627.734.90.45
8Texas4.3$71,8962.9$90,817517.651.20.42
9North Carolina4.2$199,2251.7$57,374647.825.40.42
10Maryland5.2$69,1792.3$111,278586.332.80.41
11Washington6.5$151,3122.0$38,772465.245.30.40
12New York4.0$86,3132.7$75,502602.433.60.40
13Virginia5.6$107,1761.9$93,528507.334.30.39
14Arizona6.0$111,2142.0$24,856581.650.70.37
15Hawaii4.2$85,0131.7$112,377541.8440.37
16Georgia3.4$62,9962.6$68,058632.225.20.35
17Oklahoma4.2$59,3431.5$89,93955958.30.33
18New Jersey3.7$92,8972.6$84,930405.5160.33
19South Carolina3.7$67,6532.0$37,830674.947.90.33
20Missouri5.2$95,4751.5$29,115568.147.50.31
21Massachusetts5.0$115,9731.5$59,90844434.90.31
22Michigan4.6$94,9171.5$17,961507.876.90.30
23North Dakota4.6$171,5221.2$9,348466.652.20.30
24Rhode Island4.8$131,4511.5$10,918517.845.50.30
25Oregon6.3$64,7571.7$38,04446447.10.30
26Connecticut4.0$110,7341.4$86,216466.323.50.30
27Arkansas4.5$44,2201.4$36,495587.972.90.29
28Alabama4.8$36,7502.1$28,793583.440.80.29
29Louisiana4.4$44,2921.4$19,127774.844.70.29
30Wisconsin6.7$96,3811.1$23,842483.638.70.28
31Indiana4.1$80,5541.6$50,827523.935.40.28
32Tennessee4.0$75,3541.7$34,07956941.70.28
33Kansas5.5$70,3271.4$25,922488.553.80.27
34Illinois3.4$49,7791.8$36,323604460.27
35Idaho5.0$83,4221.3$62,180382.845.10.26
36Utah5.4$75,2901.4$46,897339.855.50.26
37Wyoming5.7$64,2032.1$12,302374.442.10.26
38Minnesota5.1$102,2431.2$25,695422.643.90.25
39Mississippi3.6$15,5471.4$59,827740.1180.25
40Pennsylvania4.5$78,3101.5$33,976463.4350.24
41Ohio3.6$77,7271.3$19,416542.345.30.23
42Nebraska4.8$92,3920.9$19,53441863.90.23
43Kentucky4.7$34,1951.6$17,981436.438.20.20
44South Dakota3.5$11,3061.4$18,278509.669.60.20
45Maine5.1$66,0021.4$22,139325.233.30.19
46New Hampshire5.0$78,7860.8$53,680278.139.40.19
47Montana4.0$47,1070.8$35,147468.151.90.19
48West Virginia4.1$75,7131.0$6,558198.236.10.11
49Vermont4.0$20,6490.8$4,758274.545.80.07

Overview of U.S. Crime Statistics, 2017

Because crime affects different areas in different ways, looking at and trying to make sense of crime statistics for the population as a whole can be incredibly confusing. After researching a variety of fact sources, we had quite a bit of uncertainty about what these facts actually meant. We wanted to provide clear answers about what might (or might not) be contributing to crime in the U.S.

Below you'll find our summaries of a few of the most frequently cited crime facts. These were drawn from what we deemed to be the most common pattern amongst our sources.

Cities over 1,000,000 residents have the biggest increase in crime rates.

In 2015, violent crime rose by 3.9 percent while property crimes have decreased by 2.6 percent. However, this increase has not occurred uniformly throughout the U.S. Cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington D.C. have had 244 more murders which make up around half of the rise in murders. In fact, Chicago alone has seen a 59 increase in murders which accounts for 40 percent of the rise. With this information, one would expect to see Illinois having the highest violent crime rate of all the states, but Alaska has the highest (730 per 100,000 people). Bigger cities have been impacted by decreasing populations and higher poverty and unemployment rates than the national average.

Drug addiction causes people to commit crimes.

Drug use has always been a problem in the U.S. with 12.7% of all arrests being for drug abuse violations. In 2004, 17% of state prisoners and 18% of federal inmates said they did their crime in order to have money for drugs. For violent crime, only 3.9% of homicides were narcotics related. With the opioid crisis becoming a bigger national problem, similar crimes could be on the rise. In 2015, opioid deaths and heroin deaths increased by 15% and 23% respectively.

More cops mean a decrease in crime rates.

There is much debate over whether having more cops decreases crime rates. According to a Princeton study, an additional officer prevents 2.9 violent crimes and 16.23 property crimes annually. However, this depends on the training of the police officer, the amount of money spent on policing, and how the officers are used in their communities.

More prisons cause inverse effects.

Within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were arrested by the end of the first year. It has also been shown that harsher prison sentences increases the likelihood of a reoffense.

Property crimes are decreasing.

Even though there was a slight increase in violent crimes, property crimes have been decreasing consistently. Property crime decreased 3.9 percent in nonmetropolitan counties and 1.5 percent in metropolitan counties. The state with the highest property crime rate in 2015 is New Mexico with 3697 property crimes per 100,000 people.

The Ultimate Guide to Dating Safely

In the United States, 44% of adults are single – with 40 million Americans using online dating services.

Although online dating may be a relatively new concept, dating itself is an age-old method of getting to know someone before committing to anything more serious. But with the growth of the Internet, new technologies, chat facilities, and the acceptance of meeting people online, there has also been a rise in the number of risks people are exposing themselves to.

In this guide, we’ll explore the potential dangers of dating before offering some helpful tips on how you can stay safe when meeting someone online or going on a date for the first time. We’ll also include some apps that help you date safely, and additional resources you can explore for more sound advice.

Statistics About the Dangers of Dating

Cast your mind back 50 years, and you’d find singletons donning their best suits and dancing shoes, cruising around discos and bars to find “the one.” However, today, only 9% of women and 2% of men find a long-lasting relationship in a bar.

Instead, 63% of married couples say they met each other through a friend, while 27% of 18- to 24-year-olds have turned to online dating (an increase from 10% in 2013). A sign of the times, perhaps?

However, with this growth of online dating and meeting people you’ve never met (and neither have your family or friends) comes risks, which are added to with other risks many people who are dating face, particularly if they’re teenagers.

Here are some statistics about the risks and threats posed by dating:

Dating Abuse in Adults

Teenagers and Adolescents

  • Every year, physical abuse is suffered by almost 1.5 million high school students from their dating partner
  • A third of adolescents in the US are a victim of verbal, emotional, sexual, or physical abuse at the hands of their dating partner (far outweighing any other forms of youth violence)
  • A tenth of high school students have been purposefully slapped, hit, or physically hurt by their girlfriend or boyfriend
  • Girls and young women between 16- and 24-years-old account for the highest rate of intimate partner violence (this is almost three times the national average)
  • 43% of women who are dating at college report experiencing abusive and violent dating behaviors
  • When it comes to dating abuse, college students aren’t able to deal with it, with 58% saying they don’t know what to do to help someone going through abuse and 57% saying it’s difficult to identify it
  • 16% of college women in a dating relationship have been sexually abused
  • Only 33% of teens have told someone about the abuse they suffered when they’ve been in a violent relationship
  • A study in Hong Kong found those using dating apps were twice as likely to be sexually abused than non-users
  • 14% of women and 4% of men report being sexually assaulted while being incapacitated
  • Before an incident of unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault in college, 62% of students had been drinking alcohol

Online Dating

  • 53% of people admit to lying on their online dating profile – men tend to add up to two inches to their height while women take around 10 pounds off their weight
  • 42% of women and 17% of men have had a bad experience with online dating
  • 28% of online daters have felt uncomfortable or harassed by the way they’ve been contacted by someone on a dating app or online
  • 10% of sex offenders use online dating to meet new people
  • 53% of people say they’ve dated more than one person at the same time
  • In 2016, the number of cases of romance scams or confidence fraud reached almost 15,000 (a rise in 2,500 cases from 2015) with the losses from these scams exceeding $230 million
  • The average financial loss from an online dating scam ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 but many victims have lost as much as $400,000

Top Tips for Staying Safe on Your Date

Even though the above statistics make for worrying reading, it shouldn’t stop you from going out there and meeting people. Instead, they should just emphasize how important it is to remain vigilant at all times during the dating process – no matter how long you’ve known the person for.

To stay safe, there are a number of things you can do:

  • Always Keep Friends and Family Up to Date – Never go on a date with someone without telling a loved one where you’re going, who with (even giving them your date’s name and number), and what time they should expect you home. If something does change while you’re out, be sure to update them straight away.
  • Use Your Own Transport – This is particularly important if you’re meeting someone you don’t know, and it could save your life. Get in your own car or Uber it so you have a quick escape route if things aren’t going to plan – and it means your date won’t know your home address.
  • Meet in a Mutual, Safe Environment – As fun as it may be to “Netflix and chill” with someone you can’t wait to meet, it’s not a good idea to go to someone’s house if you don’t know them. Always meet them in a public place (a coffee shop or restaurant you’re familiar with, for example) where you know there’ll be plenty of people around. This not only reduces your risk of finding yourself in an unsafe situation but it also means other people may remember seeing you at this location if something does go wrong.
  • Never Leave Your Drink or Food Unattended – Although you might need to powder your nose or ring your friend to tell them how hot your date is, never leave your food or drink unattended when you first meet someone. Roofies (Rohypnol) and GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) are common date rape drugs and are colorless and odorless, which makes them hard to detect. Once consumed, they make you feel incredibly disorientated, so always watch your drink being made by the bartender, never accepting something you aren’t sure about.
  • Limit Your Alcohol Intake – As much as the above date rape drugs are an issue, the number one date rape drug is alcohol. So, limit yourself to a couple of drinks at the most while you’re out with someone. Alcohol can lower your inhibitions and make you more susceptible to a predator’s motives – e.g. taking you away from the public place you’ve met in.
  • Organize a Group Date – Although this might not be possible, going on a group date can significantly reduce the risks of meeting someone you don’t know. If you can, take your mate along with you so you’ve got two pairs of eyes on drinks etc. Plus, you’ll have their second opinion on whether your date is worth seeing again or not.
  • Take Some Protection with You – Even though a third of singletons have had sex BEFORE their first date, the protection we’re referring to isn’t just condoms. Rather, we’re talking about good, old-fashioned pepper spray. OK, so this may seem a little over the top, but having that reassurance when you’re heading out on a first date will make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities.
  • Don’t Tell Any Lies – We’ve already seen how common it is for people to lie on their online dating profiles, but try to refrain from overselling yourself on your dating app or site. Sharing pictures that are years old or elaborating the truth isn’t impressive when the real you comes out and could lead to aggressive or angry behaviors from your date.
  • Focus on the Here and Now – When we’re dating, it’s easy to get carried away, especially when we really like someone. Are they “the one,” have you found the father of your unborn child, and will you finally be walking down the aisle… Don’t let your thoughts run away with themselves and focus on getting to know the person first. Lust can often cloud our initial judgments, so try to use some caution, especially on the first few dates.
  • Do a Google Search – Finally, if all else fails, do a Google search for your date. Find some questionable information or start to get a bad feeling about them? Then it’s probably worth ditching this person before you get yourself into a sticky situation. Don’t forget to check out LinkedIn and Facebook pages, too, just to make sure they are who they say they are (and if they’ve only got one or two friends on these pages, that should tell you something as well).

Top Tips for Staying Safe When Dating Online

By 2040, it’s anticipated that 70% of us will have met “the one” online, and one study revealed that online dating leads to happier, longer marriages. So things ain’t all bad in the world of online dating!

However, along with the above tips, there are a few extra steps you can take to stay safe:

  • Choose an Anonymous Username – Never include your surname or any other personal information in the username of your profile.
  • Never Reveal Your Personal Information – You may need to give out your contact number and name when you decide to meet someone but try to limit how often you do this. You can always contact them on the site until you feel comfortable you know who they are – and if you do want to give out an email address, think about setting up a specific “dating email address” they can contact you through, making sure no personal details (i.e. your surname) are included in the address.
  • Trust Your Gut Instinct – If, during your chats online, something makes you question your potential date or they say something inappropriate, listen to your gut instinct. Anything that rings alarm bells should be taken seriously.
  • Speak to Them on the Phone – Firing emails and chat messages back and forth can be exhilarating but it doesn’t often give you a good overview of a person – and it doesn’t confirm they are who they say they are. So, before you meet them in person, ask to speak to them on the phone first. Practice your banter and get chatting.
  • Be Mindful of Unusual Language – Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there, which is why you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for any unusual language your online daters are using. When their English sounds broken, think about those dodgy “Nigerian prince” emails we’ve all received and delete the contact.
  • Look for Mutual Friends on Facebook – Once you know the name of your potential date, search for them on Facebook to see if you’ve got any mutual friends. If you have, consider contacting this mutual friend to see what they think to your date. Having someone’s second opinion can really boost your confidence and give you the reassurance you need that this is a legitimate person who doesn’t have a chequered past.
  • Delete and Block Anyone You’re Not Sure Of – If you start to feel uneasy about someone, block and delete them from your profile. Receive an inappropriate or abusive message? Report them straight away.
  • Be Wary of Scammers – If someone declares their love for you a little too quickly or they ask you for money (or offer you money for that fact), be very wary. These are common behaviors of scammers and there’s only one thing they’re after – money. As hard as it may be, always hold back when you meet someone and try not to fall for any cliched sob stories. And never give out your bank details.
  • Take Your Time – It’s difficult to know how quickly you should arrange to meet up with someone you’ve met online, which is why there’s no given rule as to how long you should leave it before you arrange your first date. However, a study suggests you shouldn’t wait too long. American researchers found that, after the first message is sent, the tipping point for your first meeting comes at around 17 to 23 days into your conversation. The longer the respondents of the survey waited, the more disappointed they were with their first date.
  • Tread Carefully with Long-Distance Rendezvous – Due to the large number of people around the world who are dating online, it’s highly likely you could meet someone who’s not from your neck of the woods. Therefore, when you do decide to meet, you may be staying away from home. And if you are, always stay in a hotel rather than at your date’s house or somewhere they recommend. Never meet at this hotel and don’t tell the person where you’re staying.

Top Tools Apps for Dating Safely

Thankfully, a number of companies have made it much easier for you to date safely, whether they help you check out how legitimate someone is or reassure you that you’ll be safe on your date.

Here’s our top pick of dating tools:

TinEye A lot of scammers will try and be clever with the photos they use, often stealing them from Facebook. So, use TinEye to search for this image on the Internet to see where else it’s appearing. If you see a result that suggests your hot date isn’t who he said he is, proceed with caution, they’ve probably created a catfish profile. You can also use Google’s Reverse Image Checker in much the same way.

PiplAs the largest people search engine, Pipl allows you to find out what person’s behind a phone number, social username, or email address. It can be incredibly accurate but can also pull up other potential profiles (especially if someone has the same name or a similar social username to someone else), so don’t jump to conclusions straight away if you can’t find the person you’re looking for.

Find My Friends AppThis app allows you to track people through their phone, and while this might sound uber-stalkerish, it’s a great way of making sure you and your friends are safe. Install this on your phone before you go on a date and make sure your friend or family member can track you at all times. That way, they’ll be able to see you are where you should be – and can always book a cab if you need them to in an emergency.

Watch Over Me AppAvailable for free on Android and Apple devices, this app is turned on when you aren’t feeling safe. All you need to do is switch it on, specify how long you want the app to watch you for, share some details, and then tell the app when you’re safe. If you don’t hit the “I’m Safe” button before the end of your specified time, the app will notify your loved ones. They’ll be given your precise location along with any videos or pictures you’ve uploaded.

And if you aren’t able to call someone when you are in danger, you can shake the phone to activate alerts to your emergency contacts. It’ll even notify you when you’re entering a high-crime area!

Whitepages If you get hold of your date’s phone number, you can do a check on Whitepages to see if their name matches what they’ve given you. Just use the reverse phone search to find out more information about the person who has that mobile number. You can also search by their name and state/city.

Scam DiggerLook through a list of online profiles that have been found to be scams.

Email Address of ScammersOn datingnmore.com you can see a list of email addresses that have been flagged as scammers.

CriminalCheck.comWhen you’re really unsure about someone, you can use this website to do a national search for sex offenders. This is free to do and all you need is a name and zip code.

Additional Resources

Want to read more about dating safely or need some advice on how to protect your teen in the dating world? These further resources are jam-packed full of useful information:

Dating for Dummies Cheat Sheet – Here you’ll not only find tips for making safe connections online but advice on how to ask for a first date, too. It also includes some tips on how to flirt on your first date and how to date with confidence.  

Staying Safe in Relationships – Produced by the NOAA Workforce Management Office, this relationship safety guide shows you how to stay safe in relationships. It also provides some safe dating tips for teens, which are great for parents, too.

How to Protect Your Online Dating Profile – This guide provides some incredibly useful tips on how you can protect your online profile from hackers and stalkers. It includes things you need to look out for, how to protect your images, and the importance of not oversharing your information.

How to Use the Internet to Investigate Your Next Date – If you think you need to play detective, this guide tells you just how to do this. It offers great tips on where you can check out how legitimate someone is without them knowing.

How to Spot a Dating Scam – Wary about being caught up in an online dating scam? This guide tells you what warning signs there may be, what communication issues to look out for, and when to delete this contact from your profile.

A Mom’s Guide to Protecting A Teenager When They’re Dating – Because dating has changed so dramatically since most parents were teenagers themselves, it can be difficult to relate to the experiences teenagers are going through. This guide explains some of the ways things have changed and how, as a Mom, you can deal with these and protect your child.

Protecting Teens from Abusive Relationships and Teen Violence – As a parent, you don’t want to think about worst-case scenarios, but it’s important to be clued up so you can protect your child. This guide explains the risks of teenage relationships, the warning signs your teen may be in an abusive relationship, and how to effectively help your child.

Which? Guide to Staying Safe on Dating Websites and Apps – Read advice on how to stay safe while online dating. You’ll also find some helpful information on how to spot and report fake online profiles (in the UK).

Poll: College Sexual Assault – For more statistics on the growing issue of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact in college, read this article by the Washington Post. It revealed that a fifth of women report having been sexually assaulted while at college.

History of Labor Day

The wrong reputation

Summer is technically over on the Autumn Solstice (between the 21st and 24th of September) but for many, Labor Day (September 4th) heralds the beginning of the end, causing many to view it through a bittersweet lens. Many forget that Labor Day was not created to signal the end of a season, it was meant to signal the end of worker oppression.

Labor Day honors the long and toiled history of labor in the United States. Before the 8-hour workday, people typically worked 10 to 16 hour days, 6 days a week and -- despite laws being passed -- endured years of poor working conditions and strikes for their rights. Labor Day recognizes the strength and appreciation of the American workforce.

In an effort to spur and support worker’s rights, the first Labor Day celebration was held on September 5, 1882. In 1887, the first state to make Labor Day a holiday was Oregon, with New Jersey, New York, and Colorado following suit. In 1894, after public outcry over the death of workers during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland made it a national holiday and a symbol of the Labor Movement.

The wrong representative?

There’s still debate over who actually founded Labor Day: Peter J. McGuire (the man with the plan) or Matthew Maguire (the man who acted on the plan).

Peter J. McGuire was the founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He led a series of strikes that led to the enforcement of the 8-hour workday law (originally passed in 1868, by the way). On a trip to Toronto, he observed a Canadian Labor Day celebration where 1/10 of the population of Toronto marched for unions and better labor laws. Inspired, he suggested that the Central Labor Union of New York do the same.

Working as Secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York, Matthew Maguire (note the different spelling of the last name) organized that very first Labor Day parade. A machinist and radical figure in the Socialist Labor Party of America, he also led strikes in the 1870s against working conditions and long hours.

Whether a conflict of interest or an interest in avoiding conflict, Samuel Gompers, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, gave the “founder” title to his other co-founder, Peter J. McGuire.

Regardless, wrong finally goes right

The early hours of the first Labor Day parade saw low attendance due to worried workers losing money - or their jobs. However, it’s said that once the band started playing, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people showed up. After the parade ended, some went back to work while others continued the celebration in Wendel’s Elm Park. The party lasted until 9 p.m. and included food, speeches, and a lot of beer.

Parades were the common way to celebrate holidays and were typically followed by festivals around town - after parties if you will. The Labor Day festivals eventually grew so big that they became hard to maintain. To solidify the meaning or simply maintain order, organizers began to focus less on beer and more on speeches about the economic and political significance of worker achievements. Labor Sunday was also established to focus on the spiritual and economic achievements of the Workers Movement.

The beginning of the end

Through the past century, Labor Day has seemed to achieve the opposite of its intended effect. Relaxation has become rushed and an “enjoy it while you can” mindset has taken over (perhaps that mindset was always there, but for a different reason).

  • Many take their vacation days to have one last getaway with family before the school year begins.
  • Less summer means less time off, and so amusement parks and other harbingers of fun close after Labor Day.
  • Somehow Labor Day signifies when people switch to their fall and winter clothes, so hurry up and wear out the white.
  • Fall’s favorite sport, NCAA football, holds its first games during Labor Day weekend, the NFL the weekend after.
  • Recently, Labor Day has become an important weekend for end-of-summer and back-to-school sales - the ultimate rush.

Although the way Labor Day is celebrated has changed, it’s important to take the time to remember and appreciate the fact that we don’t work 12-hour days and have better working conditions, so enjoy that day of rest before it’s back to being “busy.”

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