LAUSR

Key Points Question Is there variation by sex and by racial and ethnic subgroups in rates of opioid overdose deaths among older adults over time? Findings In this cross-sectional study of opioid overdose deaths in older adults from 1999 to 2019, 79 893 persons in the US aged 55 years or older died due to opioid overdose. The annual overall death rate per 100 000 persons for this population ranged from a low of 0.9 in 1999 to a high of 10.7 in 2019 and increased annually from 2000 on; rates varied substantially by sex and by race and ethnicity over time. Meaning These results suggest a need for increased screening for substance use disorder among older adults along with outreach and treatment models adapted to their unique circumstances.