Pennsylvania residents over 55 face a substance use crisis that rarely makes headlines, even though it accounts for a meaningful share of the state’s overdose deaths.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Department of Aging have launched a new pilot called the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education, or WISE, aimed squarely at this often-overlooked population.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, nearly 600 Pennsylvanians age 55 and older died from an overdose in 2024, accounting for 18% of all overdose deaths statewide that year.
State officials point to age-related metabolic changes, chronic health conditions and grief as factors that can raise the risk of substance use disorders and overdose among older adults.
What Is Driving the Need in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich said during the program’s launch that one in eight seniors experiences a mental health issue and uses illicit drugs, while one in eleven has a substance use disorder.
Those numbers reflect a population that often goes unnoticed by systems designed to identify and treat addiction, since substance use in older adults can look different than it does in younger people and is frequently mistaken for normal aging or medication side effects.
“The older adults who are struggling with substance use disorder are often invisible to the systems designed to help,” said Reverend Robert Fuller, a withdrawal management counselor and older adult in recovery who spoke at the launch event.
Understanding Substance Use in Older Adults
Substance use disorder in older adults often develops differently than it does earlier in life. Common contributing factors include chronic pain management with prescription opioids, social isolation following retirement or the loss of a spouse, and interactions between multiple medications that can compound the effects of alcohol or other substances.
Signs of addiction in this population can include increased confusion, changes in sleep patterns, withdrawal from social activities, and unexplained financial strain from purchasing substances or medications.
Because these signs can overlap with normal aging or other medical conditions, older adults with substance use disorder are frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to younger adults.
How WISE Works Locally
The pilot is being funded through Pennsylvania’s share of the “Big Four” opioid settlement, the result of a multistate investigation into opioid manufacturers and distributors led by Governor Josh Shapiro during his time as attorney general.
WISE is currently operating in Berks, Chester, Lawrence and Lehigh counties, chosen because they have some of the highest overdose rates among residents 55 and older in the state.
In each county, the local Area Agency on Aging trains at least two facilitators to lead six weekly, two-hour WISE sessions at senior centers and other community locations.
Participants complete surveys before and after the sessions to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes about substance use and prevention.
Lawrence County was one of the first counties to sign on, after Agency on Aging Administrator Amy Cervone heard a presentation on the program at a state meeting and asked to be included.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that there needs to be additional services for seniors,” DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones said at the Lawrence County launch.
Finding Addiction Treatment in Pennsylvania
For families in Pennsylvania who suspect an older loved one may be struggling with alcohol, prescription medication or other substance use, help does not have to start with a crisis.
Local Area Agencies on Aging can be a starting point for connecting older adults to community-based prevention resources like WISE, even outside the four pilot counties.
Beyond prevention programming, Pennsylvania residents of any age have access to a wide range of addiction treatment options, from outpatient counseling to residential care, many of which accept Medicare or Medicaid.
Addictions.com lists addiction treatment centers across Pennsylvania, including programs equipped to serve older adults. Call
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