Opioid Addiction Diagnoses Rise 33% in Three Years, With Older Adults Most Affected

Diagnoses for opioid use disorder (OUD) have surged by nearly 33% between 2022 and 2025, according to a recent FAIR Health report. This increase occurs even as national data indicates a downward trend in opioid overdose deaths since 2023. The data, which tracks diagnoses among insured patients, reveals that the hardest-hit age groups are not those typically associated with the opioid crisis.

In 2022, there were 449 diagnoses of OUD per 100,000 patients. By 2025, this number rose to 596 per 100,000, representing a 33% increase. Receiving a diagnosis is considered a crucial step for accessing treatment, including medications like suboxone, methadone, and naltrexone, which can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

The majority of patients diagnosed with OUD were men, accounting for 56.1% of cases. The age group experiencing the highest number of diagnoses was 41 to 50 years old, comprising 28.1% of all diagnoses. Close behind were the 31 to 40 age group (26.4%) and the 51 to 65 age group (25.8%). Individuals over 65 accounted for 10.7% of diagnoses, while those aged 23 to 30 represented 7.2%. Patients 22 years old and younger made up less than 2% of diagnoses.

The states with the highest rates of OUD diagnoses among insured populations were Tennessee (1,551 per 100,000), West Virginia (1,528), Mississippi (1,373), Arkansas (1,320), and Delaware (1,256).

Of all insurance claims related to OUD, 39% were for substance abuse services and treatment. Drug screening accounted for 21% of claims, emergency room visits for 14%, and psychiatric and psychological services for 8%.

While overdose deaths had been steadily climbing, driven by prescription drugs, heroin, and more recently fentanyl, a shift began in 2023. For the first time since 2018, annual opioid deaths started to decline and have continued to decrease. This decline is partly attributed to updated CDC guidelines in 2022, which recommend prioritizing non-opioid painkillers and, when opioids are necessary, using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.

Increased public awareness and the availability of medications like methadone have also played a role. Methadone has been shown to halve the risk of death for individuals with opioid addiction. Policy changes that allow patients to take home a month's supply of methadone, rather than requiring frequent clinic visits, have been instrumental in helping people avoid overdoses. Additionally, programs that track controlled substance prescriptions help prevent patients from obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors.

The increase in OUD diagnoses does not necessarily contradict the decrease in overdose deaths. It may suggest that more individuals with existing opioid use disorders are now seeking and receiving the medical help they need. This could be due to expanded treatment options, greater availability of medications, and improved insurance coverage for necessary doctor visits, screenings, and treatments.