dailycaller
Steve Birr
Vice Reporter
4:11 PM 02/08/2018
[excerpt]
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/08/older-americans-opioids-death/Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 are experiencing the largest spike in opioid overdose deaths, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Coverage of the opioid crisis largely focuses on the toll addiction is having on Americans between the ages of 25 and 44, however, overdose deaths of older Americans are accelerating faster than any other age group. Emergency workers in Michigan are urging the public to focus their attention on this segment of the population, which is particularly at risk, reports FOX 2 Detroit.
Dan Phillips, an EMS captain in Royal Oak, Mich., says there is a false perception that the crisis is largely due to abuse of street drugs like heroin. He says older Americans often become hooked on painkillers after being initially prescribed opioids for an injury.
