Substance Use And Abuse Among The Elderly Population

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 sixty or older, and there is considerable data showing that substance abuse problems are common in this population but are mainly ignored. Substance abuse among older Americans is one of the fastest growing health problems in the country. Some reasons affecting substance use and abuse in older adults include social status, health levels, and lack of knowledge and data on the issue, while circumstances that might exacerbate the abuse include the participation of caregivers and the shame a denial of abuse. Health professionals often fail to identify drug problems in older adults for a variety of reasons, and lack of awareness means it is routinely misdiagnosed and undertreated, as symptoms often mimic depression, dementia, or diabetes. The baby-boom generation is substantially larger than previous ones and is placing greater strain on U.S. healthcare. When this is coupled with the lack of real advocacy for this particular population it means that the size and scope of this problem is likelyShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1473 Words   |  6 PagesAging-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 population. A national public health concern is that the rate of elderly substance abuse will rise sharply as boomers enterRead 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 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 baby 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 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 someti mes 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). 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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 olderRead 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 MoreEssay on Substance Abuse and the Elderly2015 Words   |  9 Pagesof this paper is to determine the level of substance abuse in the elderly community. 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Being homeless, especially in these late years of life, causesRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among Older Adults Essay1317 Words   |  6 PagesI 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  "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