While no one can be certain just why Americans are not living as long as they did previously, this new study strongly indicates that the opioid crisis takes considerable blame as well as the rapid rise of drug deaths in the U.S.
If the study is correct about the reason for more premature deaths, then it is likely that the government will need to do more to address opioids in the near future.
The government also needs to know its estimates regarding future Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid costs.
