Susbstance Abuse and the Edlerly Population

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Substance Abuse in Older Populations The issue of substance misuse and abuse among the elderly population is complex. The elderly rarely use alcohol or drugs to get high. Drug or alcohol use that begins after age 60 appears fundamentally different (Culberson & Ziska 2008). The elderly turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate the physical and psychological pain from the onslaught of medical and psychiatric illness, the loss of loved ones or social isolation (Culberson & Ziska 2008). Elderly patients have a combination of and functional and social habits that support substance use. As adults age, they are often unable to do the social things they have been accustomed to. This is when many elderly persons begin to display problems doing the tasks of daily life. It is sometimes easy to take a pill provided it helps them continue to live independently. This desire to remain independent is an important part in the complex treatment plan that is established when it comes to assisting an elderly patient who is abusing their medication. This paper will discuss the crucial role played by medical personnel, the influence of societal biases, and family and peer support systems of the elderly who are struggling with substance misuse and abuse. The importance of training physicians, identification and assessments, and treatment approaches are discussed as well. Prescription Drugs The number of people misusing prescription drugs is increasing in the United States (Basca 2008). One of the reasons this is the most common form of drug abuse is due to individuals in this age range being more likely to take prescription medications. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, prescription drug misuse is the most common form of drug a... ... middle of paper ... ...ifficult to assess, diagnosis, and treat their substance abuse as it is generally more involved than for other populations. This contributes both directly and indirectly to; ageism, comorbidity, and issues with insight to the substance abuse problem (Tip 26, 2012). Older adults often internalize either real or perceived attitudes of ageism which can lead them to suffer alone rather than seek mental health and substance abuse care (Tip 26, 2012). Ageism may arise in older patients after being categorized as forgetful and absentminded. The reality may be that the patient may be suffering from treatable comorbid disorders. Examples of these might include depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and alcoholism (Tip 26, 2012). Often times providers do not research beyond the presenting problem for which and older patient is coming in for treatment (Tip 26, 2012).

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