The opioid crisis is often imagined as a problem of the young, but a new report from Ontario tells a different and equally alarming story. The number of people aged 55 and older with health care interactions related to opioid use disorder more than doubled between 2017 and 2025, according to the findings, revealing that the crisis has taken deep root among older adults.
This age group faces particular risks. Older patients are more likely to be prescribed opioids for legitimate pain, more likely to take multiple medications that interact dangerously, and more vulnerable to the sedating and respiratory effects of the drugs. Isolation and stigma can also keep them from seeking help. The rapid growth in cases signals that prevention and treatment strategies designed for younger populations may be missing an entire generation of patients. The report calls for better screening in primary care, more support for tapering and safer prescribing practices. As populations age, the intersection of chronic pain and opioid dependence will only grow more urgent, and Ontario's experience offers a warning that other regions would do well to heed.
