Facts About Aging and Alcohol National Institute on Aging

According to a Psychiatrist.com study, if physicians use an opioid, they should introduce it at doses 30% to 50% of those given to younger patients. A JAMA Open Network study found “a notable increase” in rates of opioid overdose deaths for adults older than 55. Between 2000 and 2020, age-adjusted rates of drug overdose deaths among people aged 65 and over rose from 2.4 to 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

According to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute of Washington, the CAGE-AID questionnaire is the most common screening tool used to assess for potential alcohol dependence. It is one common, quick tool used by health professionals to determine if they need to look more closely at an older adult’s substance use. Older adults have not demonstrated high rates of drug or alcohol use over time compared with younger adults. It has contributed to a misconception that seniors do not abuse alcohol or drugs, and there is no such problem as alcoholism in the elderly.

UNIQUE VULNERABILITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS USING MOOD-ALTERING SUBSTANCES

A senior may not recognize risks even after undergoing some treatment therapy. One can help an elderly parent or grandparent do so by asking if they are taking any medicines that could cause drug interaction and communicating the symptoms of prescription drug misuse or abuse to them. If they are taking several prescription drugs for different substance abuse in older adults health conditions at once, it would be very helpful to write down the doses and administration times in big letters on a sheet and put it up where they will see it, like on the fridge. Let them know they should always turn to their loved ones and a doctor if they feel like they’ve become dependent on a particular medicine or other substance.

Meetings with same-age cohorts enable peer bonding, provide mutual support, and help establish peer sobriety networks. Families also play a crucial role in supporting the recovery of their seniors and preventing relapse. Family members should communicate with the elderly in a respectful, empathic way. It can be challenging for seniors to remember when and how much of each of their medications to take, especially when their minds are fuzzy and they take multiple drugs for relatively long periods. Many think they’re too old to have an addiction and believe something else must be going on. Others are stuck in outmoded thinking from decades ago when there was more social stigma around addiction and treatment than today.

Box 1 Risk factors related to substance use in late life

Data shows that opioid abuse killed 79,893 people in this cohort from 1999 to 2019. SUD can be difficult to recognize in older adults and lead to treatment delays due to medical comorbidity, neurocognitive impairment, and functional decline (Seim et al., 2020). A key consideration in the treatment of older adults with SUD is that they often have co-occurring general medical illnesses (Wu and Blazer, 2014). Substance use can complicate the course and management of existing illnesses and they, in turn, can worsen the consequences of substance use and SUD.

This report did not provide comparable information on frequency of prescription drug misuse. Because prescription drug misuse is the second most common form of illicit drug use in the United States, prescription drug misuse among older adults is an issue to examine with NSDUH prescription drug questions that were added in 2015, although this analysis will require pooled years of data. The DAWN results are evidence that prescription drug misuse does result in high numbers of older adults visiting the ED. Inpatient treatment is an option for older adults who need around-the-clock care and support while they undergo detoxification and treatment for their substance abuse problems. This type of treatment offers a safe, structured environment with constant access to medical professionals, counselors, and other mental health professionals with expertise in treating older adults suffering from addiction. Hand-in-hand with prescription drug misuse is the prevalence of chronic pain in aging populations.

Consequences of Substance Abuse

It’s essential for family members and physicians alike to educate seniors on proper medication usage and side effects so they can avoid any potential misuse down the line. Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety can affect how a person perceives and responds to stimuli, making them more vulnerable to risky behaviors https://ecosoberhouse.com/ like substance misuse. Seniors with co-occurring psychiatric disorders may be more likely to try drugs or alcohol as a means of self-medicating to cope with their symptoms. It’s essential for family members and healthcare providers alike to be aware of this risk factor so they can take steps to prevent it in their loved ones.

–Substance misuse can worsen normal age-related cognitive (thinking and reasoning) changes. The DSM criterion related to giving up or reducing important social, recreational, or occupational activities in favor of substance use is similarly inapplicable. Seniors engage in fewer activities regardless of whether substance use is present or not, making it difficult to establish if this criterion is met. It can also happen due to cognitive decline, which is a normal part of aging, or disregard for warning labels. While the incidence of substance use disorder (SUD) is lower in older than in younger people, nearly a million people 65 and older are estimated to be battling addiction in the U.S. If you or someone you love is thinking of changing their habits around alcohol, the “Rethinking Drinking” website, hosted by NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), provides information on signs of a problem and tools that can help lead to better health.

Not all people will have the same signs or symptoms of a substance use disorder. For example, some people with alcohol use disorders may occasionally binge drink, while others drink daily. Substance use disorders are characterized by intense, uncontrollable cravings for drugs and compulsive drug-seeking behaviors – even in the face of devastating consequences.