NEW CASTLE, PA — Pennsylvania is launching a pilot program in four counties, including Chester County, aimed at reducing fatal overdoses among older adults as overdose deaths in that age group continue to rise across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Aging launched the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) on Wednesday, an evidence-based prevention program targeting adults age 55 and older. The initiative is funded through Pennsylvania’s share of the “Big Four” opioid settlements negotiated following multistate litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, nearly 600 Pennsylvanians age 55 and older died from overdoses in 2024, accounting for 18% of all overdose deaths statewide. State officials cited age-related metabolic changes, chronic health conditions, and grief as factors that can increase the risk of substance use disorders and overdose among older adults.
The pilot will operate throughout 2026 in Berks, Chester, Lawrence, and Lehigh counties, where overdose rates among older adults are among the highest in Pennsylvania. The administration estimates more than 100 older adults will participate during the pilot.
The WISE curriculum, which has operated nationally since 1996, covers medication management, alcohol use disorder, stress management, healthy living, prescription drug safety, and the aging process. The program is designed to help older adults make informed health decisions while reducing stigma surrounding substance use.
“The WISE program reflects the Shapiro Administration’s shared commitment to health equity, improving health outcomes, and working together to better the lives of Pennsylvania’s older adults,” DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones said. “Meeting people where they are is a cornerstone of our prevention, treatment, and recovery services.”
Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich linked the initiative to the Commonwealth’s long-term aging strategy, noting that behavioral health and substance use emerged as recurring concerns during development of the state’s 10-year Aging Our Way, PA plan.
“By aligning prevention with the goals of Aging Our Way, PA, the Shapiro Administration is delivering a proactive approach that reduces isolation and stigma and meets older adults where they are in their communities,” Kavulich said.
Each participating Area Agency on Aging will train at least two facilitators to lead six weekly, two-hour WISE sessions at senior centers and community locations. Participants will complete surveys before and after the program to measure changes in knowledge. Lawrence County’s first session is scheduled for July 8. Older adults interested in participating are encouraged to contact their local Area Agency on Aging.
“The older adults who are struggling with substance use disorder are often invisible to the systems designed to help,” withdrawal management counselor Rev. Robert Fuller said. “I am grateful to the Commonwealth for seeing this population, for refusing to leave them behind, and for building something that could reach the person I used to be.”
More information about the Commonwealth’s overdose prevention initiatives is available at ddap.pa.gov.
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