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"Silent epidemic": opioid overdose deaths in those over 65 has quadrupled in the last two decades

The rate of overdose deaths in this age group increased the most, from three to 12 deaths per 100,000 people from 2002 to 2021.

(Pexels)

Published by
Verónica Silveri Pazos

The Senate published a new report that warns about the increase in deaths caused by synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) in the older U.S. population. According to the text, among citizens aged 65 and older, "overdose deaths have quadrupled in the last two decades":

Among Americans 65 and older, overdose deaths quadrupled over the past two decades, and there is growing evidence that synthetic drugs such as fentanyl are adding to these deaths.

The study was prepared by Republican Senator, Mike Braun, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Aging, and is titled "The Silent Epidemic: Fentanyl and Older Americans." According to the text, "from 2020 to 2021, Americans aged 65 and older experienced a 28% increase in overdose deaths, the largest increase of all groups."

Fentanyl and Older Americans by Veronica Silveri

The analysis highlights the 480% increase in fentanyl seizures made by the Border Patrol in just three years. In 2020, the Border Patrol seized 4,600 pounds of fentanyl along the southern border. In 2023, the amount skyrocketed to 26,700 pounds.

Overdose, in data

In numbers, the study highlights the large increase in overdose deaths in seniors in 2021 over 2002: "In 2021, 6,702 Americans over the age of 65 died from overdoses. This dramatic increase is reflected in the rising overdose rate in this age group, from three overdose deaths per 100,000 in 2002 to 12 per 100,000 in 2021."

The report found that black men aged 55 and older have an opioid overdose rate four times that of other groups. It also indicated that Washington, D.C., is one of the states with the highest level of overdoses in older people: "between 2017 and 2022, 72% of opioid overdose deaths occurred among older Americans."

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 75% of all overdose deaths are linked to opioid use. The report revealed that the increase in deaths among the elderly is due in part to the fact that they take a specific drug and may turn to the black market to acquire it. Therefore, they may inadvertently ingest the drugs laced with fentanyl:

Older Americans susceptible to synthetic overdoses are often long-term, stable users whose drugs are infected with synthetics or people who turn to black market prescription drugs because of cost or to supplement their demand for drugs after being excluded from legal channels. This has resulted in prevention messages for older adults that still reflect traditional concerns about prescription opioid abuse, but do not focus on synthetics such as fentanyl increasingly infecting the medications older Americans take.
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