Substance Abuse Among Older Adults Essay - 1317 Words

I was surprised to hear that substance abuse is a growing epidemic among our elderly because when I think of the elderly I don’t think falling over on the floor drunk or sitting at a bar knocking drinks back. It really is an â€Å"invisible epidemic†. It was shocking to hear that because of insufficient knowledge, health care providers often overlook substance abuse among older adults and fail to diagnose them correctly. â€Å"Symptoms of substance abuse in older individuals sometimes mimic symptoms of other medical and behavioral disorders common among this population, such as diabetes, dementia, and depression. Problems stopping from alcohol consumption, including interactions of alcohol with prescribed and over-the-counter drugs, far outnumber any other substance abuse problem among older adults. Furthermore, many of the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse among younger populations do not apply to older adults: older adults are no longer in the work force, have smaller social networks, and drive less. Even when there is the suspicion of a substance abuse disorder, the practitioner may have difficulty applying the diagnostic criteria to a wide variety of nonspecific symptoms. With a younger patient, serious physical problems can be more easily ruled out, leading quickly to a diagnosis of substance abuse in the presence of certain symptoms. With an older patient, health care providers are often in a quandary - symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, insomnia, chronic pain, orShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe number of older Americans will increas e from 35 to 70 million by the year 2030 (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2000). The nation’s population will increase 18% during and the population aged 65 and older will increase 78% ( Wan, Sengupta, Velkoff, DeBarros, 2005). One growing concern within 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 populationRead MoreDrug Abuse Within The Elderly Population1135 Words   |  5 Pagesnumber of prescriptions written for controlled substances (those with an addictive quality) has increased more than 150% since 2008. Until recently, the social issue of drug abuse within the elderly population has not been widely understood or addressed. Because this is an issue affecting an ever-growing number of the country’s population, the focus of our practice based research project will be based primarily on the increasing number of older adults who are becoming addicted to prescription drugsRead 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 MoreSubstance Abuse and the Elderly Essay example1705 Words   |  7 PagesSubstance 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 didRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression820 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough older adults are at increased risk of depression, it is not a normal part of aging (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015; Mental Health Association, 2016). Depression is among the leading causes of disability in the general adult population, ages 18 years and above (US Preventative Services Taskforce [USPST], 2016). The US Preventative Services Taskforce recommends that all adult patients be screened for depression (USPST, 2016). Approximately 6% of older adults, ages 65Read MoreSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1668 Words   |  7 Pagesand with it we’ve seen greater longevity among America’s elder population. The number of Americans age 65 or older are living longer, in more comfort and in better health than ever before. However, not all American elders are living in good health. As our aging bab y boomers live longer, a substantial and growing percentage of older adults misuse alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances (Bartel, Blow, Brockmann, 2005). In turn, substance abuse among the elder is generating major health concernsRead MoreSubstance Abuse And The Health Care Act1489 Words   |  6 Pagesalso seen how these issues can carry over into my personal life. In this paper, I will discuss Substance Abuse (alcohol) and how it is becoming a prevalent issue in our communities and our way of life. Substance Abuse has become a major problem, as we discovered that there is a connection between substance abuse, child neglect and abuse, and poverty rates. For many years, concerns about substance abuse has been prevalent in communities and at many levels of government. IntroductionRead MoreSubstance Abuse Disorders And The Lgbtq Community Essay1063 Words   |  5 PagesSubstance Abuse Disorders and the effect on LGBTQ+ Adults This paper is to show the shockingly disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ community members with various substance abuse issues compared to heterosexual community members. This paper will briefly go over the history of Substance Abuse and the LGBTQ+ community. It will also show the evidence of risk factors of this population both current and previous, as well as some ideas to implement while working with the LGBT+ population. History SubstanceRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol And Tobacco On The Age Of Addiction981 Words   |  4 Pagesaddiction. Whether it is fast paced lifestyles and over work, obsession with sports or video games, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse. A person can end up with a drug addiction or alcohol addiction at any age. Younger people face different social pressures surrounding drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse is often related to negative experiences at some point during life. Researchers have found that abuse at any age can influence an individual s choice to turn to drugs or alcohol. Middle age and elderly dealRead MoreDysthymia And Substance Abuse Within Adults And Treatments Used For Recovery1576 Words   |  7 PagesDysthymia and Substance Abuse within Adults and the Treatments Used for Recovery Dysthymia (recently categorized into a new disorder called Persistent Depressive Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM – V)) is a mood disorder where an adult has depression that lasts for at least two years or longer. While moderately depressed, according to Butcher, Hooley, and Mineka (2014), a person must also have at least two or more symptoms to be diagnosed with