'Fourth wave' of opioid epidemic: Older adult deaths by fentanyl also show stimulant use

Georgia Public Broadcasting · October 27, 2025

In 2015, about 9% of fentanyl-related deaths among people 65 and over also included a stimulant. By 2023 nearly half did, most commonly cocaine. That’s in line with youth trends in the so-called fourth wave of the opioid epidemic.

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