A lot of people from around the world think of America as the capitol of Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll. They may be right! BUT it’s Guns, Drugs and Automobiles that puts the U.S. lower on the list of life expectancy among the top dozen industrialized nations.

Injuries due to violence, car wrecks and drug overdoses and poisonings are the leading cause of deaths for Americans under age 44, which is higher than in those other nations.

Among men, life expectancy in the 12 countries was 78.6 years, compared to 76.4 in the U.S. Women live longer than men in America but two years less than their female counterparts, particularly in Europe. Among women it is 83.4 years in the other countries and 81.2 years in the U.S.

Gun deaths were a major factor among men, accounting for 18.4 deaths per 100,000 men in the U.S., versus 1 per 100,000 in the 12 countries. For women, drug-related deaths were a big factor, with 10 deaths per 100,000 women in the U.S, compared to 2 per 100,000 in the other nations.

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