Lately there is more violence on the news than I can handle. My Facebook newsfeed consists of the election and Pokemon Go, but mostly the #blacklivesmatter and police brutality debacle. People are sharing articles and videos to express how they feel about the latest injustices in the world. Although I understand why people nationwide are distressed, disappointed and scared, I am worried about something closer to home.

I went to two funerals in the past week, making it a total of five funerals this year. At least two of those deaths were potentially suicide, fueled primarily by drug addiction. They were killing themselves — slowly, for years, from high drug usage. Until their body and mind had enough.

I was not close to them, only having talked to them a handful of times, but they were some of the kindest, most generous people I knew. Beautiful souls whom had been suffering for too long. I can only hope they finally found their peace.

Those closest to them wonder if they could have done something, anything differently that could have saved them. But the only person who could save them was themselves, which ultimately depends on if they wanted to be saved. It is up to each individual what they do with their time and with their life.

Drug addiction is one of the biggest problems in our country, and it only seems to get worse with time. Every year, 44,000 people die from drug overdoses, which has doubled in the past 14 years. On the other hand, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. These two can play hand-in-hand.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “People who are dependent on substances often have a number of other risk factors for suicide. In addition to being depressed, they are also more likely to have social and financial problems.”

Almost everyone knows someone who has died from a drug overdose, even if it’s a celebrity you have never met before. Addiction is a vicious cycle that is almost impossible to break; some never can. Some cannot be saved, but that does not change the fact that there needs to be safer guidelines for prescribing and dispensing medication. More than two million Americans misuse prescription drugs.

That is only a fraction of the kind of drugs people get into. There are a dangerous amount of different kinds of drugs that are being spread throughout teenage and adult communities. Too many people trust the person they got their drugs from and do not test it before indulging.

Over time, their brain wears thin and they cannot handle real life. Normal, everyday life becomes more difficult as one thing outweighs the rest. It gets to the point where they cannot live without their drug of choice, or whatever they can get their hands on.

It is maddening to think people will continue to die from drug overdoses every day. Even more upsetting to think of the pain they were in before, and that they valued the drugs above their own life.

There is a need for effective promotion of health, mental health and substance abuse providers and other organizations. Some people may not want to be saved, but others simply do not think they are savable.Those who still struggle with substance abuse have a way out, if they will take it.