According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, substance abuse among senior citizens has increased dramatically and is only continuing along its upward trend. Alcohol abuse is the most prevalent substance abuse problem in adults aged 50 years and older, followed by addiction to opiates and other prescription drugs. Along with alcohol and drug abuse comes a bevy of medical problems, from organ damage to premature cognitive decline. Unfortunately, substance abuse among senior citizens often goes unnoticed or misdiagnosed and the situation continues to grow.
Facts to Consider
It’s easy to underestimate the problem of senior addiction, but use and misuse of alcohol, drugs, and medications among seniors is a big problem:
- An estimated 2.5 million older adults in the U.S. have a substance abuse problem.
- 14 percent of emergency room visits among seniors are due to drug- and alcohol-related problems.
- 80 percent of seniors seeking substance abuse treatment have a problem with alcohol.
- Older adults receive nearly 17 million prescriptions for prescription drug tranquilizers, such as benzodiazepines, every year. They receive approximately 55 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers.
- Seniors’ bodies can’t handle drugs and alcohol like they perhaps once did. Substances affect the brain and body more strongly in old age, and mixing drugs or alcohol with prescription medications can cause adverse reactions.
Identifying and treating substance abuse problems among the aging comes with a set of challenges unique to this age group:
- Some warnings of drug or alcohol abuse, such as impaired balance, poor memory, anxiety, or depression, could be mistaken for other health problems associated with aging.
- Seniors may have a dependency on medications that are legitimately prescribed, rather than illicit drugs.
- Warning signs can go unnoticed due to social isolation.
- Seniors may disbelieve they have a problem and reject typical treatment methods.
- Family members, healthcare providers, and seniors themselves might have the misconception that substance abuse can’t be successfully treated in older adults.
Signs to Look For
Watch for the following signs of a drug or alcohol abuse problem among older adults:
- Commonly drinking more than one drink a day.
- Frequent refills or finishing medications more quickly than the prescription indicates.
- Doctor shopping, or seeing multiple providers to get several prescriptions.
- Complaints of gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, or diarrhea.
- Diabetes.
- Frequent injuries around the house and unexplained bruises.
- Mood swings and irritability.
- Poor personal care, such as infrequent bathing or poor nutrition.
- Confusion, poor memory, or signs of dementia.
- Signs of depression.
Steps to Take
Family, friends, and neighbors can be a preventative force against addiction in seniors. Here are steps you can take if a senior in your life is experiencing alcohol or drug abuse:
- Ask simple questions about their alcohol or drug use, like whether they think they should cut down, if they feel guilty about their substance use, or if they ever use substances first thing in the morning.
- Talk to seniors about the increased risk of drugs and alcohol in later life.
- Compile a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications to be taken to doctor appointments to prevent adverse reactions or over-prescription to addictive medications like opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines.
- Monitor medication, use daily pill dispensers, and dispose of unneeded and expired medications to prevent prescription drug misuse.
- Seek therapy and drug treatment as necessary. Look for programs tailored to the needs of elderly substance users.
- Consider the possibility of underlying mental illness, like anxiety or depression, contributing to drug or alcohol use.
- Help senior family members maintain a healthy diet, an exercise routine, and an active social life to prevent the risk factors of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Author: Sharon Wagner
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