The Baby Boomers have emerged as the elders. Retirement, chronic illnesses, and even death are diminishing the boomers. Moreover, many boomers have lost loved ones prematurely. How are they dealing with grief and loss?

Ageism intersects with various mental health illnesses that were silenced, unseen (undiagnosed), and medicated. How do we understand the generation of Baby Boomers and their mental health? How do we treat them?

This one-hour virtual session will explore patterns of opioid and stimulant use through lessons learned from Baltimore City, grounding discussion in locally observed trends, community context, and service realities. Participants examine how social, structural, and behavioral factors shape substance use, overdose risk, and engagement with care. Emphasis is placed on translating local data into practical strategies to support opioid-related disease prevention and a coordinated response across health and social service settings.