Elderly Vulnerable to Prescription Drug Addictions
Posted on October 5, 2011Experts say one of the most disturbing trends they are now facing is the enormous increase in elderly needing treatment or intervention for addictions to prescription medications. Several factors are contributing to these prescription drug addictions, including failure to notify their health care provider of all medications they are using, mixing over the counter drugs with prescriptions, and relying too much on certain painkillers.
About 13 percent of the population is over 65, counting for one-third of the U.S. population using prescription drugs. According to a recent article in the Miami Herald, the elderly are at greater risk than younger people as they tend to accidentally mix their medications. This is complicated by the natural process of aging. They also face changes in metabolism and the likelihood of having more problematic reactions than those who are younger.
The study found that in the last year, over four million adults over the age of 50, or roughly five percent of the population, has taken illegal substances of some sort. The most common drug taken among those in their 50s and 60s is marijuana, but prescriptions are the biggest problem for those over 65. Many of these substances don’t mix with alcohol.
The elderly may face physical limitations that cause them to treat their chronic pain with doctor prescribed painkillers. In addition, they often become addicted to sleep medications and develop tolerances that turn to dependence. Doctors say one of the main signs with addiction in the elderly is the psychological factor of becoming obsessed to the point that the patient is constantly focusing on the medication and they cannot stand being without it, developing a fear that they cannot function if they don’t have it.
