Monday, October 10, 2011

Substance Abuse among Seniors to Worsen

The need for drug and alcohol treatment for older Americans is expected to double by 2020, experts estimate.
With more people living longer, more people are abusing drugs (including prescription medicine) and alcohol later in life. Nearly 35 million people in the United States are 65 years or older. Approximately 17 percent of this population abuse substances.
Baby boomers have had more exposure to alcohol and illegal drugs than their parents, and they are more prone to use substances to alleviate with medical problems. Leading addiction treatment providers, like the Hanley Center, expect a much higher number of older adults in treatment in the future.

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"As Baby Boomers enter a transitional stage in their lives, new stressors, such as financial strain, grieving the loss of a parent or age-related health issues, make them more prone to depression and anxiety," said Dr. Barbara Krantz, CEO of Hanley Center, a Florida drug and alcohol treatment and recovery center set to be acquired by Caron Treatment Centers in Fall 2011.
"As a generation that grew up in a time when recreational drug use was widely accepted, Boomers are reverting to substance abuse as a way to cope with stress and change." [Hazelden]
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Substance abuse can occur for a variety of reasons later in life. Many seniors drink or use to ease their loneliness or feeling of loss after the death of a loved one.  Also, they are prescribed more medications, making it increasingly problematic to identify prescription drug abuse. In addition, Boomers are more accepting of prescription drug use and often view it as a necessary part of life.

Health care providers often overlook substance abuse among older adults because they don’t know what to look for, or they think that they cannot successfully treat older adults. Also, family members may not want to confront an elder, or attribute symptoms of substance abuse to dementia or senility.

Studies show that older adults do as well as young people in substance abuse treatment, and often do somewhat better. Seniors can recognize numerous benefits from treatment, including greater independence, direct health benefits, and improved cognition.
Related:
Substance abuse among the elderly: A growing problem:  http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/ade60220.page

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