Duval Times

Senators Rick Scott, Mike Braun, Marco Rubio, Pete Ricketts, and J.D. Vance, members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, have written a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, urging the agency to improve its prevention efforts for older Americans and raise awareness of senior overdoses. The senators are particularly concerned about the impact of synthetic drugs like fentanyl on older age groups, which often receives less attention in prevention messaging.

In their letter, the senators emphasized the need for tailored prevention messages for older populations, similar to the DEA's "One Pill Can Kill" campaign that provides customized resources for teenagers, parents, and other groups. They highlighted the importance of helping older Americans recognize the danger of synthetic drugs and the pressing public health problem it presents.

During a December 2023 hearing on substance use trends among older Americans, the Senate Special Committee on Aging heard from experts and stakeholders about the rising threat that fentanyl poses to seniors. Overdose deaths among Americans aged 65 and older have quadrupled over the last two decades, with synthetics like fentanyl increasingly contributing to these fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a 53 percent rise in deadly overdoses among older Americans in recent years.

The senators acknowledged that prevention efforts for older populations often focus on concerns about prescription medication, overprescription, risky drug interactions, and alcohol misuse. However, they emphasized that the specific risks of fentanyl and other synthetics to older age groups are not adequately addressed in prevention messaging. Older Americans who are susceptible to overdoses tend to be longer-term, stable users whose drugs are infected by synthetics or those who turn to illicit markets for prescription drugs.

Some older Americans may develop a higher tolerance to pain medication and search for more powerful drugs. Others may seek prescriptions from illicit markets due to limitations on their access to necessary pain medication or to find lower costs. The senators stressed that synthetics like fentanyl can be deadly for these older Americans, even if they have no history of prior substance use.

The senators cited alarming statistics from the DEA, which found that seven out of every ten pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. The supply of deadly synthetics is skyrocketing, and these drugs can kill quickly even in small amounts. Furthermore, they can be easily concealed as other commonly used pills, posing a significant danger to older Americans.

In their letter, the senators requested information from the DEA regarding its prevention efforts and data on the prevalence of synthetics like fentanyl among older Americans. They also inquired about whether the DEA is engaging with community partners, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders on the risks of synthetics to older Americans. Additionally, they asked if the DEA has any policy suggestions to improve older Americans' understanding of synthetic risks.

The senators also urged the DEA to update the "One Pill Can Kill" campaign to provide information and resources specifically for older Americans. They requested details on any other resources the DEA can provide to help inform older Americans about the dangers of synthetics like fentanyl.

The senators concluded their letter by thanking Administrator Milgram for her attention to this issue and expressed their anticipation for her response.

The rising threat of synthetic drugs like fentanyl among older Americans is a pressing public health problem that requires immediate attention. The senators' letter to the DEA underscores the need for tailored prevention efforts and improved awareness among older populations. With the alarming increase in overdose deaths and the prevalence of lethal synthetics, it is crucial that older Americans are informed of the dangers they face and provided with the necessary resources to protect themselves.