KGMI News
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Drug overdose deaths drove a decline in U.S. life expectancy for the second year in a row in 2016- the first consecutive two-year decline since 1963.
Drug overdose deaths surged particularly for young people as the opioid crisis persists.
The Wall Street Journal reports opioid deaths were the main factor causing life expectancy for Americans born in 2016 to drop to 78.6 years, down from 78.9 years in 2014.
The last time a 2-year annual decline occurred was in 1963, at that time due to a surge in flu deaths.
The World Life Expectancy web site consolidates health data from a variety of government and NGO sources and lists Whatcom County life expectancy for males at 78.2 years, and 82.6 years for females, ranking the county 3rd and 4th in Washington State, respectively.