The decrease in life expectancy in recent years in the U.S. is largely due to an increase in:

• A. drug overdoses and suicides
• B. deaths from automobile accidents
• C. malnutrition and starvation
• D. infectious diseases such as polio

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the problem: It asks about the primary cause of the recent decrease in life expectancy in the U.S.
2. Recall key epidemiological and public health data trends in the U.S. over recent years, focusing on causes of mortality.
3. Consider the impact of drug overdoses and suicides, which have been identified as significant contributors to increased mortality rates.
4. Compare these causes with other options such as deaths from automobile accidents, malnutrition, starvation, and infectious diseases like polio, which have not shown recent increases sufficient to reduce life expectancy.
5. Conclude that the increase in drug overdoses and suicides is the main factor driving the decrease in life expectancy in recent years in the U.S.