Drug death are skyrocketing in the US, overtaking any other form of (unnatural) deaths.

Just checked the stats for my own country and interestingly, drugs don't even make the top 20 causes of death here.

Influenza, accidental falls, and diabetes are all higher. 

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2015~Main%20Features~Australia's%20leading%20causes%20of%20death,%202015~3

It makes sense I suppose, that in a country with a high life expectancy, the leading causes would be things that tend to kill off the elderly.

In the 15-44 age bracket, the leading cause is suicide.

I assume that it has something to do with the War on Drugs.

I have a sibling in recovery from alcoholism...
It took him a long time to make it to this point and it's been an extremely bumpy road...
Addiction sucks...
And while it may be easy to say that addicts get what they deserve, I have nothing but respect for anyone with the immense strength to turn his or her life around...