According to the Associated Press and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides and drug overdoses pushed up U.S. deaths last year, and there is a continuing decline in American life expectancy. 

The suicide and overdose rate is increasing and the U.S. population is out of control. We at The Daily Eastern News want to spread awareness and information about this tragedy to help our readers and the Eastern campus. 

According to the CDC, there were over 2.8 million U.S. deaths last year; nearly 70,000 more than last year. It was the most deaths in a single year since the government started to keep track over a century ago. In addition to this, the suicide rate is up. The suicide death rate last year was the highest it has been in over 50 years. This year, there were about 47,000 suicides in comparison to the year prior’s statistic at about 45,000. 

On top of that, the Associated Press states, “Drug overdose deaths also continued to climb, surpassing 70,000 last year, in the midst of the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in U.S. history. The death rate rose 10 percent from the previous year, smaller than the 21 percent jump seen between 2016 and 2017.”

Our country is in a crisis and something needs to be done about it. There are many different resources available to you if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or struggles with drug addiction. 

Before we list off these resources, you the reader need to help spread awareness for this crisis. 

Word of mouth can change the world if enough people participate; please spread awareness. First to list off some hotlines to help you with personal struggles: National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 and a Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-877-662-9071

There are resources on campus that provide counseling for people with suicidal thoughts and struggles with drug abuse. The Health Services on campus can provide the aid you need; their phone number is 217-581-3013. There are a number of alcoholics/narcotics anonymous meetings in the area that are open to anyone struggling with addiction. 

On a more personal level, be there for your friends and family if you see these issues plague their lives. 

Sometimes people need help, and that is OK; there is no shame in that. If someone you know is threating to take their own life, please call local police to alleviate the situation. It is because of the precedent set by the nationwide drug epidemic and the ignorance to suicide awareness and prevention that the U.S. life expectancy has dropped significantly this year. Something needs to be done about this; thousands of people are dying due to suicide and drug abuse. 

Spread awareness and do what you can to stop this catastrophe.