The basic finding is that American life expectancy is going DOWN because so many Americans of the middle years have begun dying sooner then they did just a few decades ago.
Why are so many Americans dying younger than they used to? Next, read Masha Gessen's article on the increase in mortality among Russians after the breakup of the Soviet Union. So many people died that their life expectancy went down. Basically, an entire generation or two lost hope for a better society, and proceeded to drink themselves to death. Also note the short article on improvements in the mortality rate and life expectancy once there were new restrictions on liquor sales and support for a better economy.
My question to you then, is this: Given what you saw in the other supplemental readings and videos, is the post-Soviet example relevant to understanding the increased mortality rates and declining life expectancy among Americans?