The Elderly & Substance Abuse Prevention

Substance misuse among the elderly is a major cause for concern, according to The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Olympia, Washington. A University of Washington report, "The Prevention of Substance Abuse and Misuse Among the Elderly," says the elderly abuse alcohol most often, but misuse prescription drugs as well--sometimes with the encouragement or prompting of their personal caregivers.

Identify Risk Factors

• Formulating a strategy to prevent substance abuse requires identifying risk factors. Aging adults, because they are more likely to have chronic disease, receive more prescription medications than the general population. Elderly populations also suffer more social and personal loss through illness and disability. They have to cope more frequently with the loss of meaningful employment, position status and related income, and the loss of spouses and siblings to death.

Alcohol Abuse & Prescription Drug misuse Triggers

• Seniors most often abuse alcohol in response to life-changing events, such as retirement or the death of a spouse. Aging people are more likely to abuse prescription drugs as their loss of health and independence causes them to be more depressed and more likely to desire escape. They are also at risk of being over-drugged by caregivers who find them more easily controlled when using higher levels of prescription medications. Prescription drug misuse then becomes a pattern when medications are used by nursing home staff to sedate residents for their own convenience. Prescription misuse also occurs because the elderly--as well as caregivers--often attribute substance misuse symptoms to mere signs of aging.

Recommendations for Prevention Strategies

• If you suspect that an elderly loved one is abusing or misusing substances, get the help of a qualified professional, such as a medical doctor knowledgeable about substance abuse, a psychiatrist or a certified substance abuse counselor. Certified counselors can be located online or in your local telephone directory. They are the least expensive option for obtaining help with substance abuse, and are usually as informed on the subject as doctors, who tend to be more costly. If you are caring for an elderly family member, keep close count of any prescription medications he might be misusing, and do not leave him alone with access to alcohol.
  Investigate any nursing home, or home health care service caring for your elderly family member, to be sure that its staff is not encouraging substance abuse just to make their jobs easier. If you suspect this is the case, investigate other care options, and report the problem to the caregiver's manager. Whether you care for your own elderly family member, or have her cared for by others, be sure to provide her with emotional support and compassion, and do whatever you can to encourage hobbies and activities to reduce the need of escape.