Substance Abuse and the Elderly Essay example - 1705 Words

Substance Abuse and the Elderly Substance abuse in the elderly exists just as in any other population. Many seniors develop substance abuse problems due to circumstances or situations due to the aging process. A report by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 17% of adults age 60 and older are affected by alcohol abuse and abuse of legal drugs. The report also states that a third of those seniors who abuse substances did not have a substance abuse problem in their earlier years. People usually think of substance abuse as using illegal drugs and young people as the most common abusers. People do not think of seniors as abusers of drugs. As a result, the issue of†¦show more content†¦As we age the body metabolize alcohol faster and alcohol can interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Alcohol is especially dangerous for those who take sleeping pills, pain pills, or anti-anxiety medications. The effects of alcohol cause brain damage. The symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease: confusion, short-term memory loss, diminished verbal ease, and loss of problem solving skills. The symptoms decrease after three to four weeks of abstinence. However, unless abstinence is maintained, the person may become permanently demented. One report found that 10% of patients over 60 who were diagnosed with Al zheimer’s disease had brain damage caused by alcohol. The elderly are the fastest growing segment of the driving population. A person’s crash risk increases beginning at the age of 55. By age 80, it exceeds that of the young, beginning driver. Age and alcohol interact to increase driving risk. This could mean the responsibility of their transportation falls on a family member. How can family and friends help and support the persons with substances issues? If youre concerned about an elderly friend orShow MoreRelatedEssay on Substance Abuse and the Elderly2015 Words   |  9 Pagesof 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 certainRead MoreThe Problem Of Elderly Substance Abuse1490 Words   |  6 PagesPeople are often surprised to learn that elderly people abuse drugs and alcohol at extremely high rates. In fact, elderly substance abuse has become something of an unknown epidemic in the country, impacting an ever-increasing number of people. Sadly, this problem is often ignored or misunderstood and elderly people with addictions rarely get the help they need. Hopefully this problem changes for the good before it changes for the bad. Until then, it s worth knowing more about it, including theRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1473 Words   |  6 Pageswithin the elderly population is that of substance abuse as it pertains to the increasing numbers of substance abusers, and/or the increasing rates of substance abuse among the elderly population. A national public health concern is that the rate of elderly substance abuse will rise sharply as boomers enter older adulthood. This research is not intended to be an entire comprehensive and exhaustive review of all research findings but a review to highlight those findings concerning substance abuse amongRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1668 Words   |  7 Pagesmisuse alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances (Bartel, Blow, Brockmann, 2005). In turn, substance abuse among the elder is generating major health concerns and a rapid need for prevention methods. Substance abu se among the elderly is a concealed epidemic in the United States. Alcohol and substance abuse often go unnoticed, unreported, and therefore, untreated in the elderly (Wagenaar, Mickus, Wilson, 2001). It is estimated that substance abuse issues among America’s elder population willRead MoreSubstance Abuse in the Elderly, Disabled, and LBGT Populations2316 Words   |  10 PagesThe purpose of this paper is to explore the multicultural reaches of substance abuse by examining populations that are often overlooked in addiction studies. Over the past several decades, many general studies have been done about the prevalence and effects of addiction. These studies often focus on risk factors, daily use and/or treatment, and information is gathered through polls and observations. Most of these studies, however, are nonspecific regarding social and cultural factors. I will focusRead MoreSubstance Use And Abuse Among The Elderly Population2853 Words   |  12 Pages Substance Use and Abuse among the Elderly Population Joshua Antonio Dye Arkansas State University Introduction of the Issue The population of seniors and older adults are establishing an ever increasing concern to the United States and its system of health care. Life expectancy in America has increased and those who are blessed with old age are receiving all the side effects, from oral and health care concerns, to housing and nursing needs. Older adults are people aged sixtyRead MoreSubstance Abuse in Older Population1556 Words   |  6 Pagesthe first lines of defense in helping the elderly who are struggling with substance abuse is assisting them in recognizing there is a problem and correctly screening for substance abuse (Han et al., 2009). This primary role of the physician is essential to the treatment of the older patient’s medical needs. The medical community plays an important role in the lives of older people. Physicians prescribe the medications which a person might possibly abuse. It is the responsibility of the physicianRead MoreSubstance Abuse in Older Populations1147 Words   |   5 PagesThe issue of substance misuse and abuse among the elderly population is complex. The elderly rarely use alcohol or drugs to get high rather drug or alcohol use that begins after age 60 appears fundamentally different (Culberson Ziska 2008). The elderly sometimes 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 combinationRead MoreThe Characteristics Of Abusers Of Domestic Violence904 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen resolved. Some of the abuse results from being abused or it comes from social problems. Regardless of the situation abuse is never okay and should be handled accordingly. This essay will cover the characteristics of abusers of domestic violence and what roles substance abuse plays in domestic violence. One characteristic of an abuser is destroying an individual’s property and the things they care about. When an abuser feels like an individual is going to leave the abuse, the abuser will sometimesRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Drug Addiction814 Words   |  4 PagesSubstance abuse and drug addiction affects people from all walks of life. Drugs are available to those who want to consume them. Even though there vast amounts of literature and other informative and preventive data, people still choose to abuse drugs. Unfortunately, most of them become addicts and find it very difficult to escape their addiction for the reason that underlying issues may be causing them to seek and use drugs. There exists a number of special populations that are identified and may