Women's Health October 24, 2025 0 Comments

The Shocking Health Crisis Lurking in Older Adults That No One’s Talking About—And Why It Could Hit You Next

Isn’t it wild how the opioid epidemic keeps morphing right under our noses? Just when you think you’ve got a grip on it, a new twist emerges—like overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants skyrocketing over the past eight years. And here’s the kicker: it’s not just younger adults feeling the sting, but adults over 65 are hit the hardest. You might wonder, how did we get here? How did a generation that’s long been the picture of stability get caught in such a dangerous web? As someone deeply invested in health and wellness, I find this both alarming and heartbreaking. Pain management was supposed to help these folks, not put them at greater risk. So, what’s the story behind this surge, and how can we protect our loved ones from becoming another statistic? Let’s dive into the study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting and uncover what’s really going on — plus, what experts say we should keep an eye on to stay safe. LEARN MORE

Overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants have skyrocketed over the past eight years, according to a study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting.
These deaths span across age groups, but are particularly soaring in adults over 65.
Experts says it’s crucial to be aware of the potential dangers of pain medication use, and opt for alternatives when possible.

The opioid epidemic is, of course, nothing new in the U.S.—especially for women. But new research has uncovered a surprising population impacted by this health crisis: older adults.

The study, which was presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting, discovered that overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants has skyrocketed over the past eight years. That’s naturally raising a lot of questions about what’s fueling this and how to lower the risk that someone you love will be impacted.

Here’s what the study found, plus what experts want you to keep in mind.

Meet the experts: Richard Wang, MD, is the study co-author and anesthesiology resident at Rush University Medical Center. Barbara Krantz, DO, is the medical director of neurocognitive assessment program at Caron Treatment Centers. Paige Williams, MD, is a medical toxicology and addiction medicine fellow at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

What did the study find?

For the study, researchers analyzed nearly 405,000 death certificates in a database from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that listed fentanyl as a cause of death between 1999 and 2023. Of those, 17,040 involved adults who were 65 and older.

The researchers discovered that between 2015 and 2023, fentanyl-related deaths soared from 264 to 4,144 in older adults, which is a 1,470 percent increase. (By comparison, fentanyl-related deaths in younger adults increased 660 percent.)

In older adults, deaths from fentanyl and stimulants increased from 8.7 percent of fentanyl deaths in 2015 to nearly 50 percent of fentanyl deaths in 2023—a 9,000 percent increase. (Those deaths rose from about 21 percent to 59 percent in younger adults.)

The jump in fentanyl deaths that involved stimulants in older adults started to rise sharply in 2020, with cocaine and methamphetamines being the most common pairing with fentanyl.

Why are overdose deaths surging in older adults?

There are a few reasons for this massive increase in overdose deaths in older adults, according to Richard Wang, MD, study co-author and anesthesiology resident at Rush University Medical Center.

This population is more likely to deal with chronic pain and health issues that may require them to use opioids regularly, Dr. Wang says. They also may have cognitive decline that makes follow-up with healthcare providers difficult, or that causes them to struggle to manage their medications, he says.

But this particular group of older adults may also be more open to trying medications and drugs, too, says Barbara Krantz, DO, medical director of the neurocognitive assessment program at Caron Treatment Centers. “This is a population that came of age during a period of social experimentation—many tried drugs in the 1960s and 1970s, and may still view substance use as relatively benign,” she says. “That perception can extend to prescription medications: If a doctor prescribed it, it must be safe.”

Finally, Dr. Wang says that the sharp increase in the number of combined fentanyl-stimulant deaths suggests that users of street drugs like amphetamines and cocaine aren’t aware that these could contain opioids.

Overall, “the increase in older individuals, like the rest of the population, is just a testament to the fact that substance use disorders are not age specific,” says Paige Williams, MD, medical toxicology and addiction medicine fellow at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

What should caregivers and older adults keep in mind?

Dr. Williams recommends being aware of potential dangers of pain medication use. “Pain management in older adults should focus on non-opioid strategies whenever possible,” she says. “Patients who are already on opioids warrant close attention, and should have access to harm reduction strategies such as take-home naloxone.”

Dr. Krantz says it’s also crucial for people to be open with their healthcare team about what medications they’re using, including OTC and herbal products. “Interactions can be dangerous, especially when opioids or sedatives are involved,” she says.

If you’re a caregiver, Dr. Krantz also suggests looking out for “subtle shifts” in loved ones, like changes in alertness, memory, balance, or mood that could signal medication misuse or early dependence.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.