Greenville seniors learn about opioid diversion

GREENVILLE, Pa. - Mercer County seniors got an in-depth look at just how dangerous opioids can be.
The program, "Controlling the Opioid Epidemic in our Aging and Disabled Populations", introduced seniors at the Greenville Senior Community Center to specifics about how dangerous opioid prescriptions are when not used properly.
“It’s critically important to address opioid abuse among our seniors and individuals with disabilities who are among the less-recognized victims of this epidemic,” State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer said.
"There's a misperception that it's younger people, when in reality we've seen a downtick in younger opioid abuse but we've seen an uptick, about two-fold uptick, in those over fifty years old," said Longietti.
“The statistics also show that in 2016, one in three patients with a Medicare prescription drug plan received an opioid prescription. But the same Medicare programs that pay for these prescriptions often don’t provide coverage for drug addiction treatment."
Longietti stressed the importance of drug-takeback boxes around the county, including one at the Greenville Police Department.