2016 was the worst. No ifs, ands or buts about it. There were some bright spots, as there always are, but overall 2016 was the worst year that I can remember. We elected the worst person possible as president, experienced multiple mass shootings and terrorist attacks and lost so many beloved celebrities.

The year started off in the worst way possible, with the death of music legend David Bowie on January 10, and it only went downhill from there. Gene Wilder, Prince, Alan Rickman, Leonard Cohen, to very recently Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. My heart is broken, I can cry no more.

An increasing trend I've been seeing, a reaction if you will to these icons passing on, is to blame 2016 itself. Which, to me is very silly; the year doesn't control when and if people die, it isn't a singular omniscient being. 2016 isn't what killed your favorite celebrities, years of substance abuse is.

This past year, the CDC released a report stating that for the first time since 1993, the US Life Expectancy has decreased. As if this wasn't bad enough, no one knows why it's dropping. There are many theories being thrown around, the most popular being obesity, opioid abuse and suicide. The point is, those who are in their 50's and 60's right now most likely will not live as long as their parents and grandparents, and it may be due to substance abuse.

Carrie Fisher used to do cocaine. So much so, that she is often noted as "former cocaine user Carrie Fisher" in articles about others who have used the drug.

In case you weren't aware, cocaine usage can have some pretty adverse effects on one's body. It commonly causes heart attacks among users, even if they only use a few times a year. Cocaine also increases heart rate and blood pressure, whilst simultaneously constricting the arteries delivering blood to the heart, thus causing a heart attack.

2016 isn't some mysterious disease killing off our childhood heroes one by one, nor is it causing an outbreak of infections that only affect your favorite actor or singer. Something much worse is finally taking what's theirs.

When the topic of alcohol and drug abuse comes up, no one wants to talk about it. The stigma surrounding addicts is heartbreaking. Addiction is seen as a personal decision, a blip in judgement, rather than the very real disease that it is and that many people struggle with daily. It's nearly impossible to actually get treated for addiction, and some people are actually pushed into it by prescription opioids from their doctors.

Prince died of an overdose, which not only is very common, but is also easily preventable. He might still be alive if we could actually discuss addiction without the stigma surrounding it. If we could talk about drug abuse as easily as we talk about diabetes or the cold, I'm confident many people would still be alive today.

We need to stop being so superstitious and pretending that people are dying because of the calendar year. Because if we don't end the shame and disgrace that goes hand-in-hand with addiction, people are going to continue to die through 2017 and beyond. And next time, it could be your personal favorite celebrity, your friend or your family member.