People rarely imagine someone like 80 year old Martha down the street struggling with addiction. But the opioid crisis really started in the 90s with OxyContin. And now that baby boomer generation, who were highly prescribed opioids, are older. So we're really seeing that lasting effect. — Mary Nguyen
What to listen for:
When you think of the opioid crisis, older adults is likely not what comes to mind. However, older adults are highly impacted by the crisis. For some, it is a result of the opioid medications prescribed for chronic pain, while other have struggled with chronic substance use disorder for years, even before the crisis began.
In this episode, we explore the often unexpected ways the opioid crisis is affecting older adults. We'll dive into why this group is so often overlooked in discussions about dependency and recovery, and examine the unique challenges they face in accessing education and care.
Guests:
- Maryann Mason, PhD, Sociologist and an associate professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University
- Mary Nguyen, Pharmacist
- Jessica Liebster, Case Manager at West Neighbourhood House