There’s no debate that the opioid crisis persists in the U.S. In 2022, more than 80,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose, while nearly 10 million misused the drugs. But an under-reported aspect of the opioid crisis is its impact on seniors.
In 2021, more than 50,000 seniors overdosed on opioids, while more than 1 million seniors were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder.
This issue, however, is bringing lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle together in the form of the Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (PAIN) Act. This legislation, sponsored by a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, addresses the critical issue of opioid abuse among seniors by ensuring that Medicare patients will have access to new non-opioid pain management alternatives that will soon be available.
Opinion
Researchers have long established a link between prescription opioids and the opioid crisis. In 2020, 21% percent of opioid-related deaths were due to prescription opioids.
Meanwhile, Medicare’s share of nationwide opioid prescriptions increased by more than 75% and went up by 1 million prescriptions in the past decade. At nearly the same time, misuse and abuse of opioids by seniors have risen. Studies, for example, show a threefold increase in opioid use disorder among Medicare enrollees between 2013 and 2018.
That’s why we need to identify a more effective solution in pain management, where seniors can utilize non-addictive tools to address their pain.
Fortunately, the Food and Drug Administration may soon approve the first-ever oral non-opioid alternative to treat acute pain. This breakthrough drug will provide effective, alternative pain relief without the addictive properties of traditional opioids. When these treatments are approved, healthcare professionals will be able to treat severe pain without worrying about encouraging misuse, abuse and addiction.
To ensure seniors can access these non-opioid treatments in Medicare and that economics do not force seniors to keep choosing opioids, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Tony Cárdenas, D-California, are introducing the bipartisan Alternatives to PAIN Act.
The legislation will guarantee that the cost seniors pay for these new treatments is on par with what they would pay for generic opioid pain medications. By ensuring equal cost, seniors will be able to choose the option that work best for them, without having to worry about financial barriers.
The Alternatives to PAIN Act can save lives by stopping addiction before it starts. But first, Congress must act on the legislation. So as Sacramento area lawmakers return to Washington, D.C. from their summer break, it is imperative that they put aside partisan differences and pass real solutions for our seniors.
The impact of opioid misuse on the senior population is a crisis that demands immediate and compassionate action. Older Americans deserve the dignity of safe, effective pain management without the shadow of addiction.
The Alternatives to PAIN Act offers a beacon of hope for those who have suffered silently, as well as a path forward for a healthcare system strained by the dual challenges of chronic pain and addiction. Let’s break the partisan divide and ensure our seniors receive the compassionate care they deserve.
Sacramento resident Alicia Hernandez-Gonzalez is a registered traveling nurse who has 30 years of experience working in senior care.