Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015–2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics

Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015–2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics

STATISTICAL BRIEF #515:
Any Use and Frequent Use of Opioids among Elderly Adults in 2015–2016, by Socioeconomic Characteristics

September 2018

Asako S. Moriya, PhD and G. Edward Miller, PhD

Highlights

• In 2015–2016, 19.3 percent of elderly adults, on average, filled at least 1 outpatient opioid prescription, and 7.1 percent obtained 4 or more prescription fills during the year.
• Elderly adults who were poor (9.5 percent) or low income (11.3 percent) were more likely than middle-income (6.8 percent) and high-income (4.5 percent) elderly adults to obtain 4 or more opioid prescription fills during the year.
• In 2015–2016, the average annual rates of any outpatient opioid use increased as health status declined, ranging from 8.8 percent for those in excellent health to 39.4 percent for those in poor health. Similarly, rates of frequent use increased from 1.6 percent to 21.8 percent as health status declined from excellent to poor.
• Elderly adults with Medicare and other public insurance coverage were more likely to fill at least 1 opioid prescription (24.4 percent) and to have 4 or more opioid prescription fills (11.2 percent) than those with Medicare only (18.8 and 7.6 percent) and those with Medicare and private insurance coverage (18.9 and 6.1 percent).