Drug and Alcohol for the Elderly

Addiction in the Elderly

It’s naïve of us to believe that drug or alcohol addiction only affects a certain type of people, whereas it can affect all ages, races, genders, etc. When it comes to addiction in the elderly, this vulnerable group are most commonly suffering from an addiction to alcohol as opposed to heroin or cocaine, however, addiction to prescription drugs is also on the rise in the elderly.

Alcohol is readily available, socially acceptable, and of course legal; these are all reasons why alcohol addiction is steadily increasing in the elderly.

Although the elderly aren’t commonly addicted to illegal and potentially more life-threatening substances, this doesn’t mean that their addictions are any less serious.

As we get older, our bodies become weaker and so do our defences, so we become much more prone to the addictive compounds in certain substances. Rather than consuming alcohol or prescription drugs out of curiosity or as a form of escapism as many younger people do, the elderly are more likely to use these substances to self-medicate for any physical or psychological pain they’re experiencing.

In these cases, it can be very difficult to identify an addiction as the symptoms may be like those of an ailment that they’re trying to alleviate.

Some common signs of addiction in the elderly are depression, acting distant or defensive, unexplained chronic pain or medical complaints, suffering from memory problems, or seeming distracted, injuries or accidents, neglect of self-care, having difficulty making decisions, experiencing a sudden change in sleeping or eating habits, clumsiness or lack of coordination, loss of interest in hobbies, or irritability and mood swings.

Of course, many of these symptoms can also be related to serious health issues which come with age such as strokes or dementia, therefore if you notice any of these symptoms then it’s crucial to seek out professional support as quickly as possible.

There may also be some social signs which could indicate that an elderly person is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction including needing to refill their prescriptions more regularly than usual, avoiding their doctors’ appointments, and spending excessive amounts of money on alcohol.

Causes of Addiction in Older Adults

After years of working hard, many of us understandably look forward to the days of retirement and slowing down, however, these big life changes can be triggers for addiction in some older adults which often gets overlooked.

Losing this structure and the socialisation that comes with working, many older people find retirement to be boring or lonely, particularly if their partner or friends haven’t yet retired.

It’s the social norm for us to have a drink at the end of a day’s work, this can be a very difficult habit to break when you leave employment for the first time therefore, you’ll likely continue this habit throughout retirement.

We often see this in the elderly as they’re at home more and can be tempted to have a drink earlier in the day, which could then turn into more than one drink. This can quickly spiral out of control into an alcohol dependence, worsened by the fact that our memory begins to fail as we get older making it difficult to keep track of how much alcohol has been consumed.

Addiction in the elderly to prescribed medication is also a growing problem. GPs are very careful when prescribing multiple medications as they need to be sure that they won’t interfere negatively with each other.

If you’re receiving prescribed medication, you need to be sure that you inform your GP of your honest alcohol intake as this can inadvertently worsen your situation as prescribed medication will likely be dangerous when mixed with excessive alcohol consumption.

Opiates are frequently prescribed for many conditions which naturally come with age such as arthritis, these opiates are generally considered to be addictive so this medication must be closely monitored.

Anxiety and insomnia are also commonly experienced by older people for which benzodiazepines, a type of sedative, are often prescribed. Our bodies can get used to these drugs quite quickly which means that a higher dose is often needed to achieve the desired relief; this means there is a high risk of prescription drug substance abuse.

Rehabilitation for Addiction in the Elderly

Rehabilitation for the elderly needs to be managed slightly differently from those of a younger age. Addiction treatment for older people needs to account for their existing physical or psychological health conditions.

Where possible, family intervention can be very useful as this non-confrontational method helps to persuade the individual to seek out the treatment themselves.

Generally, the elderly benefit more from residential rehab treatment rather than in groups. An age-specific rehab programme where medical specialists are trained to handle elderly rehab appropriately is the best form of treatment, as elderly people are also more likely to suffer serious complications during detoxication.

Drug and alcohol rehab for the elderly will consist of a detox programme, addiction treatment therapies and aftercare to help continue treatment after rehab. Throughout rehab, every resident is cared for to ensure they are healthy and managing well.

Whatever stage their alcohol or drug addiction is at, it’s imperative that they seek out professional support immediately. Addiction will only worsen over time, rehabilitation at a recognised treatment centre is the only solution to living a happier and healthier life. Get in touch on 0800 012 6088 to learn more about addiction rehab for the elderly.