282 - The Crisis of Declining Life Expectancy in the US—Before, During, and After COVID-19

Life expectancy in the US has been declining over the last 30 years, especially among working-age adults—a stark contrast from wealthy peer countries in Europe and Asia where adults are living longer, healthier lives. Hopkins health economist Dr. Darrell Gaskin talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about new data on this American crisis including a confluence of factors including a lack of jobs, systemic racism, and the greater availability of opioids. They also talk about how the crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and about where to look for solutions to address a problem that "is not going away."