The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its annual report showing that life expectancy dropped for the second year in a row. The report shows that life expectancy dropped by a whole year from 2020-21, bringing expectancy from 77 years to 76.1 years, the lowest its been in decades. The report shows that COVID-19 accounted for nearly 75% of the decline, and the pandemic also contributed to 50% of the decline from 2019-20. It also estimates 16% of the decline is due to accidents or unintentional injuries. Drug overdoses account for around 8% of all accidental deaths between 2020 and 2021. With Maine having over 650 overdose deaths, Dr. James Jarvis at Northern Ligh Medical Center says getting to the root of addiction and expanding treatment is the key to ending the opioid epidemic. “We really need to focus on society is what’s driving people to use these kinds of drugs, either illicitly or prescription drugs. Then finding that they’re having difficulty and, unfortunately, succumbing to overdose. We need more providers who are willing to provide that. And I think we need to remove the stigma of addiction.” Dr. Jarvis also says staying up to date on vaccinations, screenings, eating healthy and being active can also help you live a longer life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its annual report showing that life expectancy dropped for the second year in a row.
The report shows that life expectancy dropped by a whole year from 2020-21, bringing expectancy from 77 years to 76.1 years, the lowest its been in decades.
The report shows that COVID-19 accounted for nearly 75% of the decline, and the pandemic also contributed to 50% of the decline from 2019-20. It also estimates 16% of the decline is due to accidents or unintentional injuries. Drug overdoses account for around 8% of all accidental deaths between 2020 and 2021.
With Maine having over 650 overdose deaths, Dr. James Jarvis at Northern Ligh Medical Center says getting to the root of addiction and expanding treatment is the key to ending the opioid epidemic.
“We really need to focus on society is what’s driving people to use these kinds of drugs, either illicitly or prescription drugs. Then finding that they’re having difficulty and, unfortunately, succumbing to overdose. We need more providers who are willing to provide that. And I think we need to remove the stigma of addiction.”
Dr. Jarvis also says staying up to date on vaccinations, screenings, eating healthy and being active can also help you live a longer life.
