The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of substance abuse in the elderly community. There is concern that as the population ages in the United States, there will be a significant increase in the number of older adults being treated for substance abuse problems. This paper seeks to understand the issues and concerns that are consequently involved with substance abuse among the elderly. There is no doubt that there is a prevalence of substance abuse throughout several age groups. To a certain extent, a society is faced with the reality of controlling substance abuse. Or allow it run rampant throughout the community. Often times, we hear and read about the level of substance abuse among teen, young adults and mid-aged adults. Alcohol, medications, illegal drugs, and over-the-counter medicines can be both abused and misused. It is a widespread belief that age plays a role in the level of influence that drugs and alcohol diminishes. As a person becomes older, drugs and alcohol is not as influential in their loves. This widespread belief has truth. However, it is important to understand that substance abuse is still prevalent in the elderly community. Drug use appears to negatively affect the health of the elderly at a higher rate than other populations (Benshoff & Koch, 2003). This may be a result of old age. So, it can be understood there is a biological effect of substance abuse among the elderly. The elderly are more susceptible to being admitted into the hospital for adverse effects of substances, while other populations of society are not. Benshoff and Koch asserts, “Intentional abuse of prescription medications to get high is thought to be rare, but over-use does occur among this population. Often this over... ... middle of paper ... ...in elderly emergency department patients. Journal of the American Geriatric Society (40):1236-1240 Atchley, R. C. (1997). Social forces and aging: An introduction to social gerontology (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadswortli. Benshoff, J. J., & Koch, D. (2003). Substance abuse and the elderly: Unique issues and concerns. Journal Of Rehabilitation, 69(2), 43. Kail, B., & DeLaRosa, M. (1998). Challenges to treating the elderly latino substance abuser: A not so hidden research agenda. Journal Of Gerontological Social Work, 30(1/2), 123-141. Mavandadi, S., Ten Have, T. R., Katz, I. R., Durai, U. B., Krahn, D. D., Llorente, M. D., & ... Oslin, D. W. (2007). Effect of Depression Treatment on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adulthood: The Moderating Role of Pain. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 55(2), 202-211. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01042.x
When we view substance use disorders, alcohol is the most widely used drug within the United States and 11 percent of workers have drinking problems (Frone, 2006). Over 20 million people used illegal substances in 2006 and 7 million people abused prescribed medications. Of the 18 million drug abusers, 18 years or older in 2006, 13.4 million (74.9 %) were employed full or part time (SAMHSA, OSA). These addiction problems have an expenditure of $276 billion dollars per year with most of this cost from loss of productivity and health care (H. Harwood, D. Fountain, and G. Livermore, 1992).
Fortinash, K. M., & Holoday Worret, P. A. (Eds.). (2012). Substance-related disorders and addictive behaviors. Psychiatric mental health nursing (5th ed., pp. 319-362). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
...y, H. (2008). Drug use and abuse: a comprehensive introduction (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Wilkes, E, Gray, D, Saggesr, S, Casey, W & Stearne, A 2010, ‘Substance Misuse and Mental Health
The crippling effects of alcoholism and drug dependency are not confined to the addict alone. The family suffers, physically and emotionally, and it is the children who are the most disastrous victims. Frequently neglected and abused, they lack the maturity to combat the terrifying destructiveness of the addict’s behavior. As adults these individuals may become compulsively attracted to the same lifestyle as their parents, excessive alcohol and drug abuse, destructive relationships, antisocial behavior, and find themselves in an infinite loop of feelings of emptiness, futility, and despair. Behind the appearance of calm and success, Adult Children of Alcoholics often bear a sad, melancholy and haunted look that betrays their quietest confidence. In the chilling silence of the darkest nights of their souls, they yearn for intimacy: their greatest longing, and deepest fear. Their creeping terror lives as the child of years of emotional, and sometimes physical, family violence.
Alcohol abuse among the elderly is a widespread problem through the United States. It is hard to discover by physicians and medical providers, because many of these people have been abusing alcohol secretly for years. The population is extremely unlikely to admit that they have problems with alcohol, especially during a routine health care visit. As many as 15% of the population over 65 may be heavy drinkers, although this number is hard to pin down.
As illustrated the model of drug abuse and the theories behind addiction are varied. There is no concrete reason for one person who drinks to become alcohol dependent versus the person who does not. Several factors contribute to why a person begins drinking and why they continue to do so despite reasons to stop. The case history exhibits a client with many risk factors associated with alcohol use and dependence.
Changing Substance Use: What We Know And What We Need To Know." Annals Of Behavioral Medicine 37.2 (2009): 117-125. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
In addition, there is an unspoken assumption that it is not necessary to treat older adults for substance use disorders as it is a waste of health care resources. Rather than investing in diagnosing older adults for substance abuse, it is believed that younger adults who abuses drugs need that urgent care more than the
Alcoholism and drug addiction have obvious and well documented effects on the substance abusers. Prolonged abuse of drugs and/or alcohol will damage a person’s physical health, impair his or her mental functioning and damage the spirit. But how will these adverse effects impact the addict’s immediate family, and how will the damage manifest itself?
Drugs are chemical substances that make your mind, mood, and body feel and act out of the ordinary. There are different types of drugs, some being legal and some being illegal. Some drugs, such as medication for colds and aches, can help ill people get well. Many of these drugs can be bought at the corner drug store and are safe if they are used appropriately. Other drugs that are more powerful are prescribed by a doctor. These include antibiotics, antipsychotics drugs and antidepressants. Some of the most dangerous and addictive drugs are illegal. The most commonly abused drugs include heroin, crack, cocaine, LSD, and ecstasy, and alcohol. Although it is legal for adults over the age of twenty-one, alcohol is the most abused drug in the world (Bancroft 16). There are five major drug and alcohol categories that are divided on how they affect the users’ bo...
Substance abuse among teenagers and young adults continues to call for a national concern for a number of reasons, one of them being the impact of these illicit substances on their health immediately or in their later lives. This research will concentrate on the abuse of cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy. Reports from various agencies frequently describe drug users as severely impaired health wise, recent research suggests that these outcomes are not extremely severe as people thought (Edwards, 2004). A thorough review of present literature suggests that substance abuse can leave the users vulnerable to a number of health problems. Many of these problems however can be tackled with a diversity of interventions. The study suggests that the home setting or the societal bond of the individual may have a strong authority over his substance abuse than being judged individually (Horwood, 1997).
While media attention and public health initiatives largely focus on substance misuse in younger members of society, research suggests that substance abuse in older populations is under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated.
There are many populations at risks for alcohol and drug abuse. Adults transitioning from middle to later life is one population that is at risks more than ever for alcohol and drug misuse and abuse. It is believed that in years to come, there will be a great increase in numbers as it relates to the amount of adults who are misusing and abusing substances. The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss the prevalence of substance misuse and abuse among older adults. Different treatment approaches and ways to advocate for this population will also be discussed in the text. This paper will also attempt to explain the factors correlated with the increased risk of substance misuse for this population. Research data will also be presented that explains the reasoning off all
However, addiction affects older adults in major ways that affect their bodies. As Benshoff and Harrawood (2003) reported, “The presence of substances at higher concentration levels suggests that older adults may be significantly more susceptible to substance abuse problems at lower dosages. Drug reactions occur 3 to 7 times more in older people. The threshold for use and abuse is simply too high for the aging adult” (p. 46). As older adults have continually easier access to risky medications they run into the dangers of adverse reactions on their bodies, especially those prescribed for anxiety, pain, and insomnia. Aging makes the body more vulnerable to the effects of these drugs, which is dangerous,