Too Often, Overdose Survivors Miss Out on Vital Treatments: Study [Video]

Key Takeaways

Most seniors who overdose don’t receive follow-up care that could prevent another ODMedications to treat opioid addiction reduce the risk of a subsequent ODOnly 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 Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, 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 methadone52% lower in people treated with buprenorphine30% lower …