Frequently Asked Questions

 
You must be logged in to perform that action.
You cannot vote on your own questions/answers.

Please choose a login method!
X
Is addiction prevalent in the elderly?
Moderator SeniorCaring
0
1 answer
Moderator SeniorCaring
0

When most people think of painkiller addiction, they usually think about the young or middle-aged adults we hear about in the news dying of overdoses. However, there is also a painkiller addiction problem in the senior population and almost no one is talking about it. In the United States, people aged 65 or older make-up just 13 percent of the population, but consume one-third of all prescription drugs.

It is estimated that substance abuse occurs in 17 percent of the elderly. However, it can sometimes go unnoticed because friends, family members, and even physicians may see the signs and think that they are just common signs of aging, such as confusion or forgetfulness. However, elderly substance abuse is very common with seniors because they may have trouble reading or understanding prescription instructions, or accidently take double the dosage because they forgot they already took it.