Older+Adults

Some people believe that drug use and drug abuse is a teenage thing, or when you hit a certain age drugs are not so important anymore and people just quit. This would be wrong thinking as addiction knows no boundaries to who it takes, destroys, or kills. It is no differently with the elderly.

 However, in seniors, reading the signs of addiction can be tricky sometimes, “Recognizing the signs of substance abuse or addiction (to prescription or illicit drugs) in older adults is not always easy. Some warning signs -- such as sleep problems, falls, and anxiety, depression, and memory problems -- can also be signs of other health conditions. As a result, doctors and family members often do not realize that the person has a problem, and people may not get the help they need." (NIH Senior Health, 2012).

 More than likely you will not see a senior that has an addiction problem out dealing drugs on the corner for a cheaper high, or out concealing a gun so they can rob the local Mac’s Store. However, you may or see them doing fraud, stealing from a store, pawning things that are worth a lot of money and close to their hearts s they can use. However, that is just one side of addiction in seniors, there is another side that is just as much a part of addiction and that is prescription drugs. "Drug use is on the rise among older adults in Canada. The use of multiple medications (polypharmacy) increases the ricks of adverse drug events and interactions."(Hart, 2012). Double doctoring, miss-use of prescriptions, writing their own prescriptions, trading prescriptions, and mixing prescriptions are all part of a deadly disease that is killing many people today from all over the world. It is also harder to identify addictions in the elderly as one sign in the elderly could represent many other problems.

 Asking some simple questions can also uncover a substance abuse problem. For example, the CAGE questionnaire, originally developed for alcohol, has been modified to include drug use and has been tested in older adults with some success. CAGE includes four basic questions, with the modified version asking about drinking and drug use:  1. Have you felt you ought to //__**C**__//ut down on your drinking or drug use?  2. Have people **//__A__//**nnoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?  3. Have you felt bad or **//__G__//**uilty about your drinking or drug use?  4. Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves, get rid of a hangover or, get the day started (as an **//__E__//**ye-opener)? (Ewing, J. (2002). Research suggests that answering yes to just one of these questions can identify a potential problem with substance use.

 There is help, help for all age groups. There are fellowships that deal with addiction and many other needs. However, sometimes, more is needed, like counseling, health training, exercise, changes in what and who we associate with, being in the presence of people who were once where you are now, and listening to their experience and learning from it. There is help, and all one has to do is ask for it. As a Social Service Worker I would suggest to anyone with an addiction problem, they go and join a fellowship of their choice, and get involved 100%. I would make sure they knew and understood what happens, what needs to happen, and of course sponsorship, the backbone to helping anyone recover from their addiction problem. I would also make myself available for counseling to assure other aspects of recovery were made available to anyone looking for help with their addiction. Some problems arise within someone who has an addiction problem due to the addiction problem that may need something different to keep them on track, and that is where I would come in.