HARRISBURG, Pa. — The administration of Governor Josh Shapiro has launched a new targeted initiative aimed at reducing fatal overdoses among older Pennsylvanians, addressing a demographic that has experienced a steady rise in overdose deaths in recent years.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, announced Wednesday the rollout of the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education, or WISE. The state is initially launching the program across four select counties that currently exhibit some of the highest overdose rates among residents aged 55 and older.
Administration officials stated that they hope the implementation of the WISE curriculum will successfully curb overdose fatalities while simultaneously improving the broader health, medication safety, and wellness outcomes for the state's older population.
