Opioid-related overdose deaths among adults 55 and older in the United States rose tenfold between 1999 and 2019. according to a new study.

During those two decades much of the increase was driven by a rise in opioid overdose deaths among adults 55 and older across the country. Opioid overdose deaths in that age group increased from 518 in 1999 to 10,292 in 2019, a 1,886 percent increase.

African-American men experienced the largest increases in opioid overdose deaths among older adults. By 2019, the opioid overdose fatality rate among non-Hispanic Black or African-American males ages 55 and up was four times greater than the overall opioid fatality rate of others of the same age.

The common perception is that drug misuse is something that only affects young people, but sadly older adults are experiencing an explosion in fatal overdoses. It is more important than ever that we raise awareness about the dangers of prescription opioids and their link to heroin and fentanyl and put an end to the stigma associated with substance use disorder.

Last week the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey kicked off the 2022 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series. The Learning Series webinars have become a valuable resource for all New Jerseyans to learn more about the opioid crisis and what they can do to make a difference in the fight against the epidemic. 

Each month will feature a new webinar covering wide-ranging topics concerning the opioid epidemic, including medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, the impact on families and addiction recovery. I hope you can join us for the upcoming webinar "The Opioid Epidemic and the Impact on New Jersey Families" at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 24. To register click here.

Together we can we can hopefully put end to the opioid crisis.