Societal problems (4)
I believe the answer is:
ills
'societal problems' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ills that I've seen before include "they're troublesome" , "Sicknesses or misfortunes" , "big problems" , "Troubles" , "Misfortunes or maladies" .)