Older Americans are not immune to what’s going on. opioid epidemic.
Among adults 65 and older, the number of overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine has increased by 9,000% over the past eight years, matching the death rate among younger adults.
That’s according to American Society of Anesthesiologists research presented this week at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
Researchers used data from the CDC to analyze 404,964 death certificates that listed fentanyl as the cause of death from 1999 to 2023.
senior citizen Of these, 17,040 were young people aged 25 to 64, accounting for 387,924.
Fentanyl related Between 2015 and 2023, the number of deaths among older adults increased from 264 to 4,144, an increase of 1,470%. Young people saw a 660% increase.
Fentanyl stimulant death rates for people 65 and older increased from 8.7% in 2015 to 49.9% in 2023, an increase of 9,000%.
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Among young adults, these mortality rates increased from 21.3% in 2015 to 59.3% in 2023, an increase of 2,115%.
According to the data, 2015 marked the beginning of the fourth wave of the opioid crisis, when the fentanyl stimulant began causing an increase in overdose deaths.
Researchers highlighted that deaths among the elderly began to increase sharply in 2020. Some stimulants combined with fentanyl include cocaine and methamphetamine Most common, surpassing alcohol, heroin, and benzodiazepines.
Elderly people are especially susceptible to these overdoses because many of them have chronic illnesses. health conditionare taking multiple medications, and “age slows down the processing of medications,” the researchers said.
A common misconception is that opioid overdoses primarily affect young people, said study lead author Gabe Pacia, a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
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“Our analysis shows that older adults are also affected by fentanyl-related deaths, with stimulant involvement becoming more common in this group,” he said in a statement. “This suggests that older adults are being affected by the current fourth wave of the opioid crisis, following a similar pattern seen in younger populations.”
Pacia noted that because the analysis was a cross-sectional study of patterns over time, the researchers were unable to determine the underlying reasons for these overdoses.
“However, our findings highlight that fentanyl overdose deaths in older adults are often multi-substance deaths, not fentanyl alone, and the importance of sharing.” drug abuse “Prevention strategies for elderly patients,” he said.
The study authors advised anesthesiologists and others. painkillers Experts should be aware that polysubstance use can occur at any age and should use caution when prescribing opioids to adults age 65 and older.
Dr. Richard Wang, study co-author and resident anesthesiologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, added that older adults prescribed opioids and their caregivers should be informed about overdose prevention measures, including having access to naloxone and knowing the signs of an overdose.
Risks can also be reduced by simplifying medication routines and using clear labeling and safe storage methods.
“With these trends in mind, it is more important than ever to minimize the use of opioids and use others in this vulnerable group.” pain control “Proper patient education and regular review of drug lists could help flatten this alarming trend,” Wang said in a press release.
Dr. Larissa K. Laskowski emergency medical care The study’s findings are “not surprising” because illegally manufactured fentanyl is “one of the most lethal substances known to humankind,” the physician and medical toxicologist at New York University Langone Health told Fox News Digital.
“It has become prevalent throughout the illicit drug market in recent years,” said Laskowski, who was not involved in the study. “Fentanyl is regularly found in the supply of cocaine and methamphetamine.”
Laskowski, who educates schools about the risks of fentanyl, stressed that everyone, not just older adults, should be aware of the drug’s potential harm.
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“Even a small amount (equivalent to a few grains of salt) can cause breathing to stop and death from an overdose,” she warned. “Substances that are sold illegally (other than in pharmacies, dispensaries, or licensed retailers) may contain anything.”
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“There is no quality control. Many drugs today contain fentanyl.”
Experts reiterated that doctors should discuss reversal agents with patients and caregivers, such as the over-the-counter drug Narcan, which is available for free over the counter. health departmentclinics and hospitals.
