Lorraine Williamson
They were the generation that challenged norms and championed freedom — but Spain’s baby boomers are now becoming an urgent concern for the country’s health system. What’s emerging is a growing baby boomers health crisis, driven by long-standing habits that are now putting pressure on healthcare services nationwide.
Decades after their heyday, many over-50s are still living by the old motto of “sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll“. The consequences, health experts warn, are increasingly severe.
Far from slowing down, many older adults are continuing to drink heavily, smoke, take recreational drugs, and re-enter the dating scene without protection. The result? Rising rates of addiction, chronic illness, and sexually transmitted infections — with mounting pressure on the public healthcare system.
The invisible epidemic among over-50s
Addiction specialists are sounding the alarm about a generation that has largely been overlooked by public health campaigns.
Felisa Pérez, vice-president of Spain’s national addiction treatment network UNAD, says many of today’s older adults began using alcohol and drugs in an era when little was known — or said — about the long-term consequences. “People who have been consuming substances for years often no longer feel anxious about it. They simply carry on,” she explains.
She believes prevention campaigns have been too focused on youth, ignoring a demographic now facing the fallout of decades of substance use. “We’ve moved from the heroin crisis of the 1980s into a phase of total invisibility when it comes to addiction among older people,” Pérez adds.
Luciano Poyato, president of UNAD, put it bluntly in a recent public statement:
“In older people, addiction is often hidden behind prescription drugs or entrenched habits.”
And that hidden nature, experts warn, makes the crisis all the more difficult to address.
Younger Spaniards are drinking less — their parents, more
While younger generations are showing signs of moderation, their parents appear to be heading in the opposite direction. Alcohol consumption among 14- to 18-year-olds in Spain has dropped from 74% to 56% over the past twelve years. But nearly 16% of 55- to 64-year-olds now drink alcohol daily. Meanwhile, smoking rates are highest among those aged 45 to 54, with almost a third lighting up every day.
Cocaine use is also climbing among those over 45. Perhaps most strikingly, the average age of death from drug-related addiction in Spain has risen to 45 — a full decade older than it was at the start of this century.
The rise of quiet addictions
Alongside these patterns are what experts call “quiet addictions” — legal drugs such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers and anti-anxiety medication. Almost a quarter of Spaniards aged over 65 use these substances regularly. While their effects may be less visible than illicit drug use, the long-term health implications are no less serious — ranging from cognitive decline and dependency to heart and lung issues.
STIs on the rise among the elderly
Another unexpected trend is the sharp increase in sexually transmitted infections among older adults. Many people, after divorce or the death of a partner, begin new relationships later in life. But few use condoms, with many associating them solely with pregnancy prevention, not disease control.
This false sense of security is having real consequences. Chlamydia, in particular, is becoming more common among people over 55, according to Spanish health authorities. Medical professionals say that education campaigns urgently need to include this demographic.
A health system under strain
The consequences of these trends are reverberating across Spain’s already overstretched healthcare services. The country’s baby boomer generation represents a growing segment of the population — and their health needs are becoming increasingly complex.
From liver damage and cardiovascular disease to depression and long-term medication dependency, this group is now one of the main drivers of chronic illness statistics. Longer waiting times, rising costs, and increased demand for mental health and addiction services are just some of the knock-on effects being felt across the system.
Yet prevention campaigns continue to focus on teenagers and young adults — leaving those over 50 without targeted support or relevant messaging.
Time for a rethink
Experts agree it’s time to stop ignoring the problem. The over-50s are not immune to addiction or at-risk behaviour, and they require tailored prevention strategies that address the realities of ageing and lifelong substance use.
“Many older adults feel untouchable — they’ve been doing this for years and assume nothing bad will happen,” says Pérez. “But addiction doesn’t respect age. Without appropriate awareness, support, and education, the pressure on the system will only get worse.”
A new kind of challenge
As Spain continues to age, healthcare planners and public health officials face a new kind of challenge — one rooted not in youth culture, but in the enduring habits of a generation that changed everything and never really stopped. If the country hopes to curb rising healthcare costs and reduce the burden on GPs and mental health services, a shift in public health strategy is needed — one that finally brings the baby boomers out of the shadows.
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