A conference in Atlantic City next month will focus on healthy aging and the impact of opioid prescriptions and dependency among older adults. The “NJ Healthy Aging Summit: Opioid Safety & Alternatives” is scheduled for September 26 at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. The event aims to bring together healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocates to discuss the risks associated with prescription opioids and explore alternative pain management options to prevent opioid dependency. Older adults and those working in senior services are encouraged to attend.
Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, emphasized the importance of addressing opioid dependency in promoting healthy aging. The summit seeks to raise awareness and educate the older population about opioid risks, empowering them to make safer pain management choices.
Opioid overdose deaths among adults 65 and older have increased by 300 percent since 2002, with a notable rise in emergency visits for opioid-related issues. In New Jersey, the 55-64 age group recorded the highest number of suspected overdose deaths in early 2025. Topics at the summit will include opioid prescribing trends, safe medication practices, and safer pain management alternatives.
Registration details are available at NJHealthyAging.org. The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is renowned for its extensive substance use prevention advertising campaign, aimed at reducing illicit drug demand across the state.
