Older adults are being hit harder by the opioid crisis than many people realize. Since 2015, overdose deaths involving fentanyl among adults over 65 have risen by an alarming 9,000 percent nationwide. Here in New Jersey, the impact is just as sobering: between January and November 2025, 365 adults age 55 and older experienced suspected overdose deaths, the highest number of fatalities of any age group in the state.
These numbers are one of the reasons the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey launched our Healthy Aging PSA campaign and why we’re sharing this new educational video.
Developed with the support of New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the video gives older adults and their families clear, accessible information about opioid risks and safer pain-management strategies. As we age, many of us manage multiple prescriptions, chronic pain, and slower drug metabolism, all of which can increase the risk of opioid misuse or dangerous drug interactions.
The video features expert insights drawn from the first-ever Healthy Aging Summit, held in Atlantic City in September 2025. Along with opioid safety, the summit explored the broader health challenges shaping older adults’ well-being, including fall prevention and staying active. This video is designed to empower older adults to understand their risks, ask questions, and take an active role in their health. A second Healthy Aging Summit is scheduled for the spring of 2026.
We encourage communities across New Jersey—senior centers, libraries, faith-based groups, healthcare providers, and local organizations—to share this resource, screen it at events, and use it to spark meaningful conversations. Every viewing helps protect older adults and supports healthier aging across our state.