Many of us picture the golden years as a time for travel, finding hobbies, and spending time with family and friends. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for many seniors. Substance abuse among older adults is often referred to as an ‘Invisible Epidemic’. Alcohol and prescription drug abuse among adults 60 and older is one of the fastest-growing health problems in the U.S.
Why Does It Happen?
Changes in later life can cause anxiety and stress instead of happiness. These changes can include:
*Retirement
*Loss of loved ones
*Loneliness
*Sleep problems
*Family conflict
*Financial concerns
Interestingly men are more apt to abuse alcohol while women are likely to abuse prescription medication. Those living alone are also more susceptible to abuse as are seniors who are disabled, suffer from chronic pain, and/or have a history of substance abuse or mental illness.
The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation also points out our bodies begin reacting differently to alcohol and medications than when we were younger. Taking medications when older may not mix well with each other or alcoholic drinks. Prescription drug misuse and abuse is common among older adults because more drugs are prescribed to them. Getting older makes the body more likely to feel the effects of drugs and alcohol.
What Can You Do When Your Loved One Has A Problem?
Families wonder what they can do when they discover an aging family member has a substance abuse problem and is in danger. Hurley Elder Care Law assists families in this situation. When a loved one is in danger and fails to thrive, one can seek guardianship. This allows the guardian to place the ‘ward’ in a facility or move them to a safer environment.
In addition, seniors who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also be easily scammed and financially exploited. Seeking conservatorship is often the best solution to preserve the financial resources of a loved one.
Hurley Elder Care Law offers complimentary phone consultations. Call our office at 404-843-0121 to share your situation and we are happy to discuss elder law options.
Journal Article
Jessica Hsieh,
University of Toronto
, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Lynn McDonald,University of Toronto
, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Adriana Shnall,Baycrest Health Sciences, North York, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Raza Mirza,National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly
, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Samir Sinha,Sinai Health
, Toronto,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Andrea Austen,City of Toronto
, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Laura Tamblyn Watts,Search for other works by this author on:
Christopher KlingerUniversity of Toronto
, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Published:
16 December 2020
- Split View
-
- Article contents
- Figures & tables
- Video
- Audio
- Supplementary Data
Cite
Cite
Jessica Hsieh, Lynn McDonald, Adriana Shnall, Raza Mirza, Samir Sinha, Andrea Austen, Laura Tamblyn Watts, Christopher Klinger, The Invisible Epidemic: A Spotlight on the Opioid Crisis Among Older Adults, Innovation in Aging, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_1, 2020, Page 210, //doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.678
Close
-
- More
Close
Navbar Search Filter Microsite Search Term Search
Abstract
Canada is facing an opioid crisis, with more than 3,900 related deaths occurring in 2017. Almost 30% of those deaths were among seniors; older adults also have the highest rates of opioid hospitalization and poisoning. Despite these statistics, little is known about the specifics. A comprehensive scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework was conducted to establish the magnitude of the problem, describe treatment approaches alongside prevention, and identify implications for practice, policy and research. Eight major electronic databases in medicine and the social sciences were searched alongside the grey literature, and a stakeholder consultation convened to validate results. A total of 6,814 articles, reports and thesis were identified. Forty-five sources met inclusion criteria, the majority stemming from the United States. Most were literature reviews, cohort and cross-sectional studies, with almost half also taking a gendered approach. Four predominant themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: 1) Medical Applications of Opioids; 2) Problematic Opioid Use; 3) Treatment and Prevention Strategies; and 4) Recommendations. Data highlighted ‘the invisible epidemic’, with treatment strategies to be specifically tailored to this population in light of metabolic differences and drug interactions as part of aging. Seniors are part of the current epidemic, with tailored approaches needed to ensure adequate, evidence-based counteraction – including seniors’ voices alongside further research in this regard. Education and training for prescribers needs to be enhanced alongside cross-jurisdictional drug monitoring programs to avoid drug interactions and misuse/fraud.
This content is only available as a PDF.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (//creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.
I agree to the terms and conditions. You must accept the terms and conditions.
Submit a comment
Name
Affiliations
Comment title
Comment
You have entered an invalid code
Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. Your comment will be reviewed and published at the journal's discretion. Please check for further notifications by email.
Which of the following has been called the invisible epidemic among older adults multiple choice question?
Which of the following is the leading cause of death in the 75 to 84 and 85 and over age groups?
Rank | 5-14 | 75-84 |
1 | Accidents (1,174) | Heart disease (123,645) |
2 | Cancer (576) | Cancer (119,913) |
3 | Suicide (451) | COVID-19 (57,100) |
4 | Homicide (340) | Chronic respiratory (33,264) |