As more adults over 65 develop chronic substance use problems, the landscape of available options, particularly for those who receive Medicare, is also rapidly changing.

Deadly drug overdoses quadrupled for older adults between 2002 and 2021, but among Medicare beneficiaries with a substance use disorder (SUD), fewer than one in five receive medication-assisted-treatment (MAT).

Opioid use is growing as a SUD among Medicare seniors. Around one million Medicare beneficiaries had an opioid use disorder in 2020, according to the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Yet fewer than 16% received treatment.

Learn more: https://bhbusiness.com/2025/05/14/the-access-gap-is-moving-rapid-shifts-in-sud-treatment-for-older-adults/