MARKETING MATTERS –
Oct. 17, 2025 – Among adults 65 and older, overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants — like cocaine and methamphetamines — have surged 9,000% in the last eight years, which matches rates among younger adults. Using CDC data, the researchers analyzed 404,964 death certificates that listed fentanyl as a cause of death between 1999 and 2023.
Older adults represented 17,040 of the individuals, while younger adults, aged 25 to 64, represented 387,924. Fentanyl-related deaths increased from 264 to 4,144 in older adults between 2015 and 2023 — a 1,470% increase. Younger adults saw a 660% increase.
Among those 65 and older, fentanyl-stimulant deaths rose from 8.7% in 2015 to 49.9% in 2023, marking a 9,000% increase.
