Agencies working with senior centers on opioid crisis

Older adults are becoming addicted, overdosing or unintentionally giving young people access to pills.

STANWOOD — Barbara Oczkewicz didn’t think that the opioid epidemic people were buzzing about on the news had reached its ugly fingers into her life.

Then she went to a presentation at the Stanwood Community and Senior Center, where she lives as well as volunteers. The topic was opioid use among older adults. Seniors are becoming addicted, overdosing or unintentionally giving younger relatives access to pills.

“I was very naive to it,” said Oczkewicz, 72. “You use what the doctor tells you to and you get better and then you’re done; that’s what I thought. But there are those who don’t.”

She learned that opioid abuse, namely overuse or misuse of prescription pain medication, is a problem among seniors. While the face of the epidemic tends to be young heroin addicts, the reality is that this crisis spans ages and backgrounds. Drug abuse might look different in the older population, but it can be just as dangerous.

That’s why senior centers around Snohomish County are teaching people strategies for recognition and prevention.

At the start of the year, county officials contacted 14 centers, including Stanwood’s.

“They said, ‘We have a problem here,’ ” center director Julie Vess recalled.

Hospital data showed that seniors in Snohomish County were overdosing and updated numbers continue to raise concerns.

There were 100 overdose-related visits to Providence Everett’s emergency department between June 1 and Aug. 31, according to a Snohomish Health District report. While more than half of the patients were between 25 and 40 years old, another 25 were between 41 and 60, and four were older than 60.

Fifteen of the hundred overdoses involved prescription pain medication, either alone or mixed with another substance such as alcohol. Nine of the patients said they were using medicine for chronic pain and three said their use was related to cancer.

“It’s not just the homeless drug addict on the street. It can be anyone,” Vess said. “With the older adult population, it is a significant issue. We need to do everything we can.”

The senior centers agreed to host two educational events each in 2017. They brought in experts such as emergency responders and medical workers. There have been forums, classes and health fairs, as well as “take back” events to safely dispose of unused pills. Plans are in place to train nurses in senior centers on the use of naloxone, also known as Narcan, which can be administered to reverse the effects of an overdose.

Vess doesn’t know of any overdoses at the Stanwood senior center, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened, she said. When residents of the senior apartments call for emergency aid, she doesn’t get details on the type of emergency.

County leaders recently rolled out a plan to treat opioid abuse as a crisis. Coordination is key, said Shari Ireton, spokeswoman for the county sheriff’s office. The response doesn’t necessarily require a lot of additional money, but rather taking inventory of resources and working together to make the most of them.

That means taking a close look at who is affected, young and old.

Oczkewicz has taken pain medication before, for surgeries that were only two months apart. She was wary of the pills and stopped taking them as soon as she was able, she said.

At the presentation in Stanwood, she heard that sometimes patients get multiple prescriptions from different doctors, either on purpose or by accident because they’ve had multiple injuries or surgeries. People might take double doses because their pain seems to be worsening, or they can’t remember whether they took their pills earlier in the day.

“They think, ‘Maybe I’d better take another one just in case. I don’t want to be in pain,’ ” Vess said. “It’s an easy mistake to make.”

Oczkewicz now understands the importance of storing and disposing of medications safely, and of watching for signs that loved ones might have a problem.

“My eyes opened up so I could be aware of other people like family or friends who would be taking dual doses or be on it too long,” she said.

She plans to go to the next presentation, which has yet to be scheduled.

As senior centers finalize budgets and calendars for 2018, the plan is for each to put on at least two more events, Vess said.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.