Overdose deaths quadruple among adults over 65

A recent U.S. study shows that drug overdose deaths in adults 65 and older have quadrupled from 2002-2021. While dying of a drug overdose is still considered an uncommon cause of death among older adults, the increase of fatal overdoses in this age bracket is something that local partners want to bring awareness to. The Office of the Aging Services (OFAS), Chautauqua County Health Department (CCHD), Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene (CCMH) and Combat Addiction CHQ want you to know that opioid use is on the rise nationwide and Chautauqua County is no exception. The combination of prescription medication and illegally manufactured drugs (fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine) is dangerous and potentially deadly. Misuse of prescribed medications can also lead to possible unintentional overdoses.

“Fentanyl is an odorless, tasteless, and deadly opioid being found in street drugs of all kinds. It is responsible for the vast majority of overdose deaths in Chautauqua County.” states Steve Kilburn, Grant Projects Director for CCDMH. “Recently we have seen an increase in overdose deaths in the county year to date compared to this time last year.”

Dr. Michael Faulk, Chief Medical Officer and Interim Public Health Director for CCHD stated in a recent press release that, “County residents are warned that using any street drug is dangerous and potentially deadly.”

JAMA Psychiatry recently published the article “Twenty-Year Trends in Drug Overdose Fatalities Among Older Adults in the US” showing overdose fatalities quadrupling over the last 20 years for people over 65 years old. People in this population are showing an increase in physician ordered prescriptions which can lead to intentional and unintentional overdoses or people being diagnosed with substance use disorder. The article states approximately 1 in 5 deaths involved both prescription and illegal drugs. Most intentional overdoses involved prescription opioids, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or antiepileptics and sedative-hypnotics. Trying to improve mental health services and substance use disorder is being advocated to health insurances, including Medicare. Safe prescribing initiatives are being placed in primary care doctor’s practices to help lower the unintentional overdose rates. (Humphreys K, Shover CL. Twenty-Year Trends in Drug Overdose Fatalities Among Older Adults in the US. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online March 29, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.5159)

Chautauqua County has resources in the area for people who are using illegal drugs or misusing prescription drugs, have mental health concerns or questions about their medications they are taking. Please call 911 if you have an emergency or go to the nearest emergency department. For more information of local services that are available call NY Connects 716-753-4582 or visit Combat Addiction CHQ online: https://combataddictionchq.com. If you are in need of a mental health professional, you can reach out to Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene services at 716-753-4104. If you are in crisis and would like to talk to a licensed mental health professional, you can either call Chautauqua County Crisis Line at 1-800-724-0461 or call the national crisis number at 988.