- A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that the annual opioid overdose death rate per 100,000 persons for adults aged 55 and older increased substantially since 2019. Furthermore, rates varied substantially by sex and by race and ethnicity over time. Beginning in 2013, the rate of opioid overdose deaths for non-Hispanic Black men was substantially higher than the overall rate for persons 55 years and older and the rates for other subgroups. The authors state that the results indicate a need for increased screening for substance use disorder among older adults along with outreach and treatment models adapted to their unique circumstances. (Study here)
January 12, 2022
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders