{
  "id": 9404910,
  "title": "Opioid use among Ontario seniors an ‘overlooked and evolving crisis’: study",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/opioid-use-among-ontario-seniors-an-overlooked-and-evolving-crisis",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-23T20:14:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news-globalnews",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12069936/how-many-seniors-using-opioids-ontario/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new Ontario report reveals a growing crisis among senior citizens who have become dependent on opioids, a problem previously overlooked. The study, released by Unity Health, a Catholic hospital network based in Toronto, found that 1 in 350 older Ontarians are now identified with an opioid use disorder (OUD), a figure that has risen by 81% since 2017. Tara Gomes, an epidemiologist and author of the report, emphasized how this crisis is not only increasing in prevalence but also intensifying in severity among older adults. She highlighted that between 2017 and 2025, the number of seniors aged 55-plus seeking care for OUD has doubled from 7,116 to 15,231. The mortality rate from opioid-related causes among this age group has also climbed from 1.1 per 100,000 in 2013 to 1.8 per 100,000 in 2024. Gomes pointed out that while opioid prescriptions were once a common treatment for pain relief, they have transitioned to an illicit supply for many older adults.\n\nThe rise in opioid prescriptions during the 1990s and early 2000s, coupled with reduced availability in later years, may have contributed to this trend. Many seniors who developed these disorders decades ago are now reaching their 50s and 60s, necessitating ongoing healthcare needs. Gomes acknowledged that part of the increase may also stem from heightened awareness and screening efforts targeting OUD in older adults. However, the report also indicated that awareness is growing, yet public perception of older adults' opioid use remains problematic. Dr. Samir Sinha, whose previous 2023 report by the National Institute on Ageing found the highest rates of opioid consumption, overdoses, and mortality in older adults, emphasized the need for a shift in public understanding of this demographic. He stressed that older adults are often not considered when discussing the opioid epidemic, yet they represent the demographic with the highest risk of fatal drug-related outcomes. The report also addressed concerns over long-term care facilities, which are often understaffed and may struggle to monitor medication dosages and ensure patient safety, particularly for those with complex health conditions like OUD. Gomes stressed the importance of exploring alternative treatments for chronic pain, such as massage therapy or exercise, to mitigate the risks associated with opioid use.",
  "summary": "The study showed the number of adults 55 and older seeking care doubled in eight years from about 7,100 in 2017 to more than 15,000 in 2025.",
  "key_points": [
    "1 in 350 Ontario seniors identified with opioid use disorder (OUD)",
    "OUD prevalence among seniors increased by 81% since 2017",
    "Opioid-related mortality among seniors rose from 1.1 to 1.8 per 100,000"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Medical Xpress",
        "title": "Number of older adults living with opioid use disorder in Ontario more than doubles over eight years, new report finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/number-of-older-adults-living-with-opioid-use-disorder-in-ontario",
        "published": "2026-09-23T15:00:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Opioid use among Ontario seniors an ‘overlooked and evolving crisis’: study",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/opioid-use-among-ontario-seniors-an-overlooked-and-evolving-crisis-9410344",
        "published": "2026-09-23T20:14:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}