Substance Abuse Relapse Prevention for Older Adults

Substance abuse relapse prevention in older adults can be more of a challenge than in younger adults. Loneliness and lack of family support are some of the biggest hurdles when an older adult is trying to maintain sobriety. An older adult is more likely to be prescribed narcotics to help with the pain and anxiety that sometimes come along with aging. With a relapse prevention plan that addresses all these issues, they have a better chance of staying away from their substance of choice.

Community Mental Health - Individual & Group Counseling

• If an older adult is enrolled in a community mental health program and has communication in the form of both one-on-one counseling and group therapy, her chances of remaining sober increase greatly. Having a venue where she feels accountable for her actions is a major aspect of recovery, in comparison to a younger population. Enrolling an older adult in individual counseling will allow her to work out some of the more personal issues that have led her down a particular path.

  Individual counseling also provides education. A counselor can instruct the older person on why her substance-abusing behaviors can be dangerous, and give her insight on why she might be engaging in those behaviors. Individual counseling promotes a bond between client and counselor, and an older adult will be more likely to consider that bond before relapsing. The trust that has been constructed between the client and counselor is a deterrent for an older adult against doing something to break it, as in relapsing.

  Joining group therapy for substance abuse relapse prevention is another important component to older adults' recovery. They are getting the benefit of socialization, something they might not have elsewhere. They are out among a group of people who are experiencing similar issues, which will invoke a feeling of belonging. Once again, there is a sense of accountability to the others in a group therapy setting; and for the older adult, this benefit will often be a deterrent to relapsing.

Communication with--and Among--Doctors

• When caring for a client at a community mental health center, the line of communication with all outside providers, such as primary care doctors, is very important. For instance, all of the patient's health care providers have to partner together to monitor the total amount of medication that the older adult may have been prescribed. The primary care doctor, along with other specialists who are treating the older adult, are kept informed on the progress of their patient. By establishing this line of communication, the doctors guard against the over-prescription of addictive drugs. If the older adult does need to be on a medication that has a tendency towards dependence, he is being monitored closely from all who are involved. This is detrimental in guarding against substance abuse relapse.