In the December edition of the Maine Monitor Radio Hour, senior public health reporter Rose Lundy spoke about her recent reporting on how more older Mainers appear to be using harder drugs.
Here are some of her findings:
— Between 2019 and 2023, the number of Medicare recipients in Maine receiving buprenorphine who were 65 and older increased from 638 to 1,087, according to a Maine Monitor analysis of Medicare claims data. Buprenorphine is used to treat an opioid use disorder.
— That’s a 70 percent increase, while the overall population of Mainers 65 and older grew 12 percent during that time.
— Some medical practitioners are not noticing the increase in their day to day. But others are, and it is worrying to them. They wonder if it is the start of a trend.
Rose also spoke about additional reporting she has done on groups across Maine that are trying to combat men’s loneliness. Some gather around food or woodworking projects, but they all offer the promise of friendship.
She also touched on health care challenges, including how difficult it has been for older Mainers to find help understanding their options for Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans this year.
You can listen to the episode here. Tune in to listen live the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. on WERU 89.9 FM.
