Stayin' Alive In Las Vegas

Two articles that explore why so many have so much trouble stayin' alive in that blasted desert fantasy metropolis, the one with a burnt, coal-black cinder where a heart should be. When I go there, I see angry, preoccupied people walking around on the fringes of life - in the endless trailer parks, at bus stops, at the mini-marts, behind the glittering facades:

Why is the suicide rate so high in Nevada?:

As far back as 1929, the first year Nevada registered vital statistics with the federal government, the suicide rate here was more than twice the national average.

... Newly compiled data by state Suicide Prevention Coordinator Misty V. Allen shows that 480 people took their lives in 2004, up 9.7 percent from the previous year. That's more than the 398 individuals who died in traffic accidents in Nevada that year.

From 1990 to 2000 Nevada led the nation in the number of suicides per capita. In 2004 the rate dropped slightly, to 18.5 suicides for each 100,000 population.

The national average in 2003, the last year for which comparison figures are available, was 10 suicides per 100,000 people. That year Nevada's rate was 19 per 100,000, which placed the state fourth nationwide.

... "Suicide victims seem to have a much higher rate of alcohol and substance abuse," Thienhaus said. "The vast majority of victims also have a mental illness that should have served as a warning."

... "Long term care doesn't just mean hospitalization," Thienhaus said. "It must also include supervised housing, sheltered workshops, access to outpatient care, all of the things necessary to avoid a recurrence of the factors that precipitated the initial suicide attempt."

... It is a common assumption, for example, that gambling is a major factor in Nevada's high suicide rate. But other so-called frontier states that do not have legalized gaming also rank high on the list.

In addition, New Jersey, which also allows gaming, consistently ranks near the bottom of the list.

The fact that so many frontier states top the list suggests there may be something about living there that contributes to suicide attempts.

Looking at street life:

Norman Bangs had finally had enough of the streets. He'd had enough of the cold and dusty back lots, the police harassment, and the mocking teenagers. He'd had enough of the newspaper beds, the relentless sun and the lack of running water. He'd had enough of the drinking and the drugs.

He just wanted a little help. What he got was the cold shoulder and a one-way ticket back to the streets, where he died earlier this month.

"He seemed like a fine fellow to me, but he had two vices: alcohol and drugs," said Greg Malm, who occasionally ran into Bangs at the Fremont Street Experience and Circle Park. "That's the trouble with this town. There's so many doors that are being closed in your face. It really shouldn't be like that."

... Sacco drove Bangs to WestCare, which serves the valley's homeless who abuse alcohol and drugs. After being ignored, said Sacco, she asked if any beds were available. A receptionist said no. When Sacco asked if there was anywhere else she could take Bangs, the receptionist explained that WestCare was the only free detox center in the valley.

Discouraged, Bangs asked Sacco to drop him off at the Salvation Army homeless shelter. She did, not knowing whether he entered the building. About a month later, she heard that Bangs died of a drug overdose behind an abandoned building near Maryland Parkway and Charleston Boulevard.

... "It's always painful to hear stories of somebody who wanted to get help, and it just wasn't to be," said Lera-Randle El, adding that about 17 people have died on the streets of Las Vegas this year. "There's a lot of would've, could've and should've. Also, in order to deal with the grief, I hope that Norman Bangs' death will shed more light on the issue. I've had homeless people who've died over the years for various reasons. Their cases brought light to the issue. They're still helping from beyond the grave. They're still reaching out to show what's actually going on out there."