Substance Abuse Among The Elderly - 1668 Words

We have witnessed enormous advances in western medicine and 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 concerns and a rapid need for prevention methods. Substance abuse 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 will dramatically increase, because while the nation’s population will inc rease 18%, the proportion of the population 65 and older will increase 78% by the year 2030 (Johnson Sung, 2009). In order to reduce this potential negative inevitability, closer attention must be dedicated to current elder substance abuse. The issue of substance abuse by this elderly population is a problem that will potentially affect many segments of society. Not only is there a critical need for clinicians to develop skills and strategies necessary to deal with the range of issues that can influence substance abuseShow MoreRelatedSubstance 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 M oreSubstance 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 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 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 mayRead 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 MoreManagement Concerns Of Corrections For Special Populations Essay1289 Words   |  6 Pagesprisoners and to whom jail and prison management and staff have to respond in nontraditional and innovative ways (Schmalleger Smykla 2013). The special needs populations included individuals suffering from mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse and dependency, the elderly, sufferers of chronic and communicable diseases, and physical disabilities. Keywords: corrections, special needs offenders, management Corrections and the Management of Special Needs Inmates To say the correctional systemRead MoreDrug Abuse Within The Elderly Population1135 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Center for Applied Research Solutions, the number 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 olderRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol And Tobacco On The Age Of Addiction981 Words   |  4 Pagesover 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 experience s 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 deal with life changes such as divorce, loss or jobs,