It’s hard to imagine an elderly person having a substance abuse problem or a substance use disorder (SUD), but it happens. In 2015, drug overdose death rates increased for all age groups, including seniors. With baby boomers aging, it’s predicted addiction in the elderly will rise.
Addiction in the Elderly
Substance addiction is tricky when it comes to seniors. It’s often missed or overlooked. This could be because people don’t think it can happen with seniors. That it’s only for the young.
Some symptoms of SUD are close to common signs of aging like confusions and memory loss.
Prescription Drug Problems
Illicit drug use is not uncommon in older adults, but prescriptions drugs pose an even greater threat. One reason is the amount of prescription medications they take.
Between 2013 and 2014, over 40% of people 65 years and older used 5 or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days. This is according to a report by the National Center for Health Services.
This can cause confusion and misuse when the medication is taken more frequently, consumed in higher dosages, or longer than prescribed.
The body’s ability to absorb and filter medicines slow with age. Dependence on prescription drugs can come from low doses.
Chronic Pain
Having chronic pain is common among the older population. Chronic pain, especially when opiates are prescribed, can be a major reason for addiction. Many people have started on these medications years or even decades ago, and are still being prescribed them even as they get older.
Taking opioids by themselves is a pretty big risk. When combined with other sedating drugs, the risk escalates. For example, drugs prescribed for anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia can be a problem.
Despite these known risks, prescription use of sedating drugs has increased with age. 9% percent of those aged 65 to 80 were prescribed those drugs compared to 3% for those age 18 to 35. Also long term use is higher in the older group.
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