Most seniors who overdose don’t receive follow-up care that could prevent another OD Medications to treat opioid addiction reduce the risk of a subsequent OD Only 4% to 6% of overdose survivors receive such medication WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Most seniors who survive a drug overdose often miss out on treatments that could help save them from a subsequent OD, a new study shows. Almost 24,000 Medicaid beneficiaries died from a follow-up overdose out of 137,000 who survived an OD in 2020, researchers say. That’s nearly one in five (17%).
“People who have experienced one overdose are more likely to experience another,” said , assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
However, treatment can reduce their risk. The odds of dying from another OD were: 58% lower in people treated with methadone 52% lower in people treated with buprenorphine 30% lower in people treated with naloxone 75% lower in people who had access to behavioral health assessment or crisis services “We found that when survivors received gold-standard care such as medications for opioid use disorder and naloxone, the chances of dying from an overdose in the following year drop dramatically,” Delphin-Rittmon said. “In short, medications for opioid use disorder, opioid overdose reversal medications and behavioral health supports save lives.
” Unfortunately, only 4% of the group received drugs like methadone and buprenor.