A new study has exposed a troubling trend: seniors are increasingly becoming victims of fentanyl-related overdose deaths, often mixed with stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines, mirroring the crisis that has gripped younger adults. The research, presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting, reveals a staggering surge in fentanyl-stimulant related deaths among those aged 65 and older. According to the study, these deaths have increased by a staggering 9,000% over the past eight years, overtaking similar rates in younger adults.
The study’s analysis is based on data from the CDC, which examined 404,964 death certificates from 1999 to 2023. Older adults accounted for 17,040 of these cases, while younger adults made up nearly 387,924. From 2015 to 2023, the number of fentanyl-related deaths in older adults rose from 264 to 4,144—marking a 1,470% increase. Meanwhile, younger adults saw a 660% increase in these deaths. Notably, the share of deaths involving stimulants in older adults surged from 8.7% in 2015 to 49.9% in 2023, a 9,000% increase.
Study lead author Gab Pasia, a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, emphasized that these findings indicate older adults are also being significantly impacted by the fourth wave of the opioid crisis. The researchers could not pinpoint the exact reasons behind the rise, but they stressed the importance of sharing drug misuse prevention strategies with seniors. They also called for anesthesiologists and pain medicine specialists to recognize the potential for polysubstance use in all age groups and to be cautious when prescribing opioids to adults over 65.
Co-author Richard Wang, an anesthesiology resident at Rush University Medical Center, recommended that both patients and caregivers be informed about overdose prevention strategies, including having naloxone on hand and being aware of overdose signs. Simplifying medication routines, clear labeling, and safe storage instructions were also suggested as ways to reduce risk. Dr. Larissa K. Laskowski, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at NYU Langone Health, warned that fentanyl’s widespread presence in illegal drug markets poses a significant risk to all users, not just seniors. She highlighted the urgent need for public awareness and education on fentanyl’s dangers, urging everyone to be vigilant about any substance sold illegally.
Laskowski, an educator on fentanyl risk in schools, stressed that even a small amount of fentanyl, equivalent to a few grains of salt, could stop breathing and cause an overdose death. She emphasized that many drugs available illegally today are laced with fentanyl, underscoring the lack of quality control in such markets. The expert reiterated that doctors should speak with patients and caregivers about reversal agents, like over-the-counter Narcan, which is often available for free at health departments, clinics, and hospitals.