Seniors and Overdose:
The Unseen Crisis in Tampa Bay
While many may associate substance use disorder (SUD) and overdose risk with younger populations, emerging data reveals a different—and deeply concerning—story. In the Tampa Bay region, adults 60 years and older are now more likely to die from an overdose than those under 30. Even as overdose deaths have declined overall, senior fatalities have climbed year after year.
A Regional Snapshot
The Tampa Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)—spanning Citrus, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties—is home to more than 5.2 million residents, surpassing the population of 27 U.S. states. But unlike many urban centers, Tampa Bay’s population skews significantly older. Over 23% are seniors, and nearly 1 in 3 residents is over the age of 60.
While public health initiatives have made progress in reducing total overdose deaths across the region, senior overdose deaths have continued to rise year after year. This troubling trend reveals a major blind spot in current intervention efforts—those designed to reduce opioid fatalities appear to be missing the older demographic entirely.
According to 2023 data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Tampa Bay had more senior overdose deaths than any other region in Florida. Out of 2,009 total overdose deaths in the region, 363 involved individuals aged 60 and older. In comparison, 208 deaths were among those under 30. This means seniors now account for nearly 1 in 5 overdose fatalities in the region—a startling reversal of assumptions about who is most at risk.
Over a three-year period, the number of senior overdose deaths in Tampa Bay has grown at a steady and alarming rate:
That’s an increase of over 24% in just three years—even as the overall number of overdose deaths is going down. This suggests that while harm reduction, education, and treatment strategies have effectively reached younger populations, older adults are being left behind. Although 1 in 5 seniors are estimated to have substance use disorder, these overdose deaths may not always be linked to classic SUD patterns, making them harder to detect and address using conventional tools.
This data calls for a paradigm shift: aging must be included as a central factor in overdose prevention policy. The current increase is not just a statistical anomaly—it is a call to action for providers, policymakers, and families alike.
Why Are More Seniors Dying from Overdose?
Our monthly webinar last Thursday brought together experts from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Michael Sletta, Director of Operations, offered several potential drivers of this deadly trend:
Online Drug Purchases: With the rising cost of prescription drugs, seniors looking to save money are buying medications (like statins or pain medicines) online, sometimes from the dark web, which poses great danger. These medications may be counterfeit, lack quality control and regulation; even worse, they may be laced with fentanyl, resulting in fatal overdoses.
Polypharmacy and Lack of Oversight: Seniors are often prescribed multiple medications. Without proper pharmacist review, dangerous drug interactions become more likely—especially after injuries that warrant short-term opioid use.
Cost-related Nonadherence and Substitutions: Seniors seeking to stretch their medications often skip doses or take less medication than prescribed to save money. Seniors may also turn to drugs like heroine, the same drug class as opioids. Heroine, like other illicit street drugs, is more likely to be the exponentially stronger opioid, fentanyl.
Older adults with a substance use diagnosis are nearly three times more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with a mental health condition. They are also more likely than the general population to have more than one mental health disorder.
Loneliness Epidemic: Social isolation is contributing to what experts term “silent suiciding”—deaths that appear accidental but may be intentional. Risk factors include life transition, loss of loved ones, loss of independence, physical health complications and perceived stigma related to substance use and mental health.
Mental Illness Misdiagnosis: Depression affects 17% of older adults (~6 million people nationwide) and is often mistaken as a normal part of aging. Symptoms can be physical (fatigue, digestive issues), but they can also be signs of depression—and of increased risk for suicide, cognitive decline, and chronic illness.
Chronic Substance Use Disorder takes a toll on older substance users especially those who are IV drug users. Later in life these individuals’ overall health deteriorates rapidly, often resulting in premature death.
Late-onset Substance Use in Seniors, particularly alcoholism is even more common even than depression. The majority of the 20% of seniors with SUD, have alcohol use disorder. Retirement eliminates many professional responsibilities and limitations on substance use. This can take the form of renewed experimentation with illicit substances—now tragically tainted by fentanyl – or an increase in frequency of alcohol consumption. Whatever the type of SUD, substance misuse has profound cognitive and physical implications for older adults.
Addressing the overdose crisis among older adults requires more than one-size-fits-all solutions. That’s why Live Tampa Bay is taking a data-driven approach by collaborating with academic researchers, healthcare experts, and community leaders to understand who these seniors are, what substances are contributing to their deaths, and why current strategies are falling short. By focusing on localized and demographically specific data, the initiative aims to uncover the root causes behind the rise in senior overdoses. These insights will be used to design and deploy customized interventions tailored specifically for older adults.
Mayra Cardenas Flynn, Manager of Clinical Services at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and Terry Gerlach, Supervisor of Clinical Services at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, encouraged webinar attendees to integrate the following strategies more intentionally into conversations with and programming for older adults with substance use disorders:
1. Prevention and Empowerment Strategies
Before diving into specific solutions, it’s important to acknowledge that many older adults may not recognize the signs of substance misuse—or may feel shame in seeking help. Stigma, generational beliefs, and a lack of tailored outreach have made it harder for seniors to access care. That’s why prevention must begin with compassionate, age-sensitive education and nonjudgmental conversations. Empowering older adults starts by helping them feel seen, heard, and supported.
- Support from a doctor of pharmacist: generic medications, lower cost alternatives, GoodRx
- Patient assistance programs (PAPs): Pharmaceutical companies offer programs that offer free or reduced-cost medications to eligible individuals
- Medicare Extra Help: Assists Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs): Some states have programs to help low-income seniors
- Many older adults visit a medical professional more than once each year.
- The primary care setting creates an opportunity for providers to screen for possible substance use or mental health problems.
- Older adults who have a long-standing and trusting relationship with their medical professional are more inclined to be candid about their concerns.
- This can create a pathway to engage in treatment for their issues.
Persons with substance use disorder are significantly more likely than the general population to have a co-occurring mental health concern.
These issues should be addressed simultaneously to support recovery and promote emotional wellbeing. For example, seniors may benefit from:
- Individual Therapy
- Psychiatry
- Body Image Group
- Spiritual Care
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group
- Family Services
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Share stories like Betty Ford’s — who started treatment in her 60s — to normalize the recovery journey for seniors
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Promote peer support, lived experience, and volunteer opportunities
- Promote resiliency and self-efficacy
- Guide seniors in developing new meaning and purpose in life
2. Debunking Ageism Myths: Aging is not a universal process
Aging is a deeply individual journey—not a fixed experience shared by all. While society often paints growing older with a single brush, the truth is far more nuanced. Some people remain vibrant, independent, and cognitively sharp well into their 80s or beyond, while others may face health challenges earlier.
By embracing the wide spectrum of aging experiences, we can break free from limiting stereotypes and create a culture that values older adults for their unique strengths and contributions.
- The narrative of ageism negatively affects self-esteem and self-efficacy, partially a consequence of lower expectations.
- Aging is a diverse process, and there are great variances between individuals.
- While it is true that the risk of some physical health complications and cognitive issues increase with age, most older adults maintain good health and cognitive functioning.
- A recent study on human behavior demonstrated that older adults were more adept than middle-aged adults at regulating their emotions and ignoring distractions.
In his book, “The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50”, Jonathan Rauch suggests that aging can give older adults a way to repurpose their role in society as they age, a role that is less about ambition and competition, and more about connection and compassion.
The value of lived experience also provides older adults with a broader perspective on what really matters in life. Sharing the wisdom of their experience improves self-esteem and self-respect.
Opportunities to Get Engaged
Supporting Seniors Committee: Live Tampa Bay is launching a collective impact pilot to improve outcomes within our older adult population in the Tampa Bay region. As part of this project, we are looking for partners to join our data-informed efforts and/or to join our Supporting Seniors Committee. This committee is for those who serve older adults or who are interested in improving outcomes for this population. If you are interested contact Jennifer Webb at jw@livetampabay.org or by call 727-320-6275.
IOP dedicated to those 50 and older: If you are someone you love is 50 and over and struggling with substance use, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is offering an in-person Intensive Outpatient Program Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This age specific group was created to better support adults navigating substance use and mental health challenges in a safe, structured and relatable setting. To admit into the group, contact Patient Access (PAC) by calling 800-257-7800 or emailing PATN@hazeldenbettyford.org. Please reference: Naples In-Person Morning Intensive Outpatient 50 Plus Group.