Health Outcomes

Drug overdose and suicide deaths among older adults reached new highs, while excessive drinking decreased.

Drug overdose deaths among older adults have risen

in the United States over the past two decades.² Drug abuse is hazardous for older adults because age-related changes in the liver reduce the ability to metabolize

medications, and most older adults take one or more

prescription medications.^3,4 They may also take nonprescription

medications and dietary herbal supplements

, which can further complicate drug interactions and lead to drug-induced death.^5,6

Changes over time. Nationally, the drug death rate increased 58% from 8.4 to 13.3 deaths due to drug injury (unintentional, suicide, homicide or undetermined) per 100,000 adults age 65 and older between 2018-2020 and 2021-2023. There were 23,000 drug deaths among adults age 65 and older in 2021-2023, 9,350 more than in 2018-2020. While the drug death rate among older adults is below the Healthy People 2030 target to reduce drug overdose deaths for all ages to 20.7 per 100,000 population

, it continues to rise in a problematic trend.⁷

• 131% among American Indian/Alaska Native (6.7 to 15.5 deaths per 100,000 adults age 65), 85% among Black (19.8 to 36.7), 80% among Hispanic (5.6 to 10.1), 68% among multiracial (5.7 to 9.6) and 44% among white (7.7 to 11.1) older adults. 
• 71% among men (11.7 to 20.0) and 34% among women (5.8 to 7.8).

• 24.1 times higher in the District of Columbia (98.9 deaths per 100,000 adults age 65 and older), and 5.5 times higher in Nevada (22.5), than in South Dakota (4.1).
• 14.1 times higher among Black (36.7) compared with Asian (2.6) older adults.
• 2.6 times higher among men (20.0) than women (7.8).

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with many adverse health outcomes

, including unintentional injuries, cardiovascular conditions and mental health consequences.⁸ Alcohol tolerance tends to decrease with age, which can make older adults more sensitive to its effects. Adults age 65 and older have a higher alcohol-attributed

death rate than adults ages 25-44 due to

heightened alcohol sensitivity, higher rates of health problems and greater risk for interactions with medications.^9,8

• 12% among college graduates (8.3% to 7.3%).
• 11% among those without a disability (8.5% to 7.6%).
• 10% among those living in metropolitan areas (7.8% to 7.0%).

• 2.7 times higher in South Dakota (9.6%) than in Utah (3.6%).
• 2.3 times higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (10.4%) compared with Black (4.6%) older adults.
• 1.7 times higher among older adults without a disability (7.6%) than those with independent living difficulty (4.6%).
• 1.6 times higher among men (8.6%) than women (5.5%).
• 1.5 times higher among older adults with an annual household income of $75,000 or more (9.2%) than those with incomes less than $25,000 (6.0%).
• 1.3 times higher among college graduates (7.3%) compared with those with less than a high school education (5.5%).

Suicide attempts among older adults are more likely to be fatal

than suicide attempts among younger people.¹⁰ Risk factors

for suicide among older adults include mental illness

, depression, previous suicide attempts, substance use problems, chronic pain, physical illness, declining function, disability, family discord or loss, family history of suicide and social isolation

.^10,11,12 Dementia and other forms of impaired cognitive ability have also been linked to suicidal behavior

in older adults.¹³

Changes over time. Nationally, the suicide rate increased 5% from 16.9 to 17.7 deaths due to intentional self-harm per 100,000 adults age 65 and older between 2018-2020 and 2021-2023. This is the highest suicide rate in Senior Report history, and remains higher than the Healthy People 2030 target to reduce suicide deaths among all ages to 12.8 per 100,000 population

.¹⁴ In 2021-2023, there were 30,500 suicide deaths among adults age 65 and older, 3,100 more than in 2018-2020.

• 14% among adults age 85 and older (20.0 to 22.7 deaths per 100,000) and 6% among adults ages 75-84 (18.6 to 19.8).
• 6% among white older adults (20.2 to 21.4).
• 6% among women (5.1 to 5.4) and 3% among men (31.6 to 32.6).

• 6.0 times higher among men (32.6 deaths per 100,000 adults age 65 and older) compared with women (5.4).
• 4.5 times higher among white (21.4) compared with Black (4.8) older adults.
• 4.0 times higher in Montana (32.1) than in the District of Columbia (8.0), and 3.3 times higher in Montana than in New Jersey and Rhode Island (both 9.6).
• 1.4 times higher among adults age 85 and older (22.7) than those ages 65-74 (15.7).

Changes over time. Nationally, the firearm death rate increased 6% from 13.0 to 13.8 deaths due to firearm injury of any intent (unintentional, suicide, homicide or undetermined) per 100,000 adults age 65 and older between 2018-2020 and 2021-2023. This rate is higher than the Healthy People 2030 target to reduce firearm-related deaths to 10.7 per 100,000 population

.¹⁵

• 16% among Black older adults (5.5 to 6.4 deaths per 100,000 adults age 65 and older) and 7% among white older adults (15.7 to 16.8). 
• 16% among adults age 85 and older (15.7 to 18.2), 7% among adults ages 75-84 (15.2 to 16.2) and 4% among adults ages 65-74 (11.3 to 11.8).
• 5% among men (26.0 to 27.2).

• 9.7 times higher among men (27.2 deaths per 100,000 adults age 65 and older) compared with women (2.8).
• 8.4 times higher in Wyoming (27.8) than in Massachusetts (3.3).
• 7.6 times higher among white (16.8) compared with Asian (2.2) older adults.
• 1.5 times higher among adults age 85 and older (18.2) than those ages 65-74 (11.8).

Early death rates among adults ages 65-74 dropped 9% in 2023, as COVID-19 exited the top 10 causes of death.

Based on calculations from 2023, the average 65-year-old in the U.S. should expect to live another 19.5 years

.¹⁶ However, many older adults do not live to see their 75th birthday. Research estimates that 48%

of all early deaths involve behavioral and other preventable causes — among them, social isolation

, which affects approximately a quarter of older adults

.^17,18,12

Changes over time. Nationally, the early death rate decreased 9% from 1,979 to 1,810 deaths per 100,000 adults ages 65-74 between 2022 and 2023, nearly back to the 2019 rate (1,765). In 2023, there were 627,700 deaths among adults ages 65-74, 40,900 fewer than in 2022. This improvement follows a sharp rise in early deaths between 2019 and 2021, when the rate reached 2,151 deaths per 100,000 adults ages 65-74. In 2023, for the first time since its emergence, COVID-19 was not among the top 10 causes of death

for people ages 65-74. Chronic diseases accounted for six of the top 10 causes of death among adults ages 65-74 in 2023. The chronic conditions in the top 10 were cancer, heart diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and liver disease. Unintentional injury was the sixth-leading cause of death, with more than half of these cases attributed to unintentional poisonings (including drug deaths) and falls.

• 13% among both Hispanic (1,523 to 1,319 deaths per 100,000 adults ages 65-74) and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (2,323 to 2,031) older adults, 12% among American Indian/Alaska Native older adults (2,198 to 1,942), 11% among Asian older adults (963 to 859), 9% among Black older adults (2,791 to 2,539) and 8% among white older adults (1,993 to 1,838). 
• 9% among men (2,420 to 2,212) and 8% among women (1,586 to 1,452).

• 3.0 times higher among Black (2,539 per 100,000 adults ages 65-74) compared with Asian (859) older adults.
• 1.8 times higher in Mississippi (2,578) than in New Jersey (1,437).
• 1.5 times higher among men (2,212) than women (1,452).

The prevalence of falls and obesity among older adults remained stable.

Falls among older adults can cause

serious injuries that may lead to high medical costs and threaten their independence over time.¹⁹ The fatality rate from falls has increased

steadily over the last few decades, particularly among those age 85 and older.²⁰ In 2021, there were more than 38,700 deaths

related to falls among older adults in the U.S.²¹

Changes over time. Nationally, 27.8% of adults age 65 and older reported falling in the past 12 months in 2023. The overall rate has not changed since it significantly decreased between 2016 and 2018.

• 14% among those with an annual household income less than $25,000 (31.6% to 36.0%).
• 7% among those living in nonmetropolitan areas (29.6% to 31.8%).

• 3.1 times higher among those who have difficulty with self-care (58.3%) compared with those without a disability (18.9%).
• 2.5 times higher among multiracial (38.9%) compared with Asian (15.5%) older adults.
• 1.6 times higher in Montana (35.3%) than in New Jersey (22.0%).
• 1.4 times higher among older adults with an annual household income less than $25,000 (36.0%) compared with those with incomes of $75,000 or more (24.9%).
• 1.2 times higher among those living in nonmetropolitan areas (31.8%) than those in metropolitan areas (27.0%).
• 1.2 times higher among LGBQ+ (32.8%) compared with straight (27.9%) older adults.

Obesity is a complex health condition

with biological, economic, environmental, individual and societal causes.²² Research suggests that the strength of the association between obesity and mortality risk increases with age

, making obesity among older adults an area of particular concern.²³

Changes over time. Nationally, 30.2% of adults age 65 and older had a body mass index of 30.0 or higher based on reported height and weight in 2023. This prevalence has leveled off after increasing steadily between 2011 (25.3%) and 2019 (29.3%).

• 4.8 times higher among Black (41.4%) than Asian (8.6%) older adults.
• 1.8 times higher among those who have difficulty with self-care (46.0%) compared with those without a disability (25.2%).
• 1.8 times higher in Louisiana (36.1%) than in Hawaii (20.5%).
• 1.5 times higher among those with less than a high school education (35.7%) compared with college graduates (24.5%).
• 1.3 times higher among those with an annual household income less than $25,000 (35.6%) than those with incomes of $75,000 or more (27.9%).