Feb. 3–Depression and pain are the two main causes of addiction in the elderly. according to Dr. Susan K. Blank, vice president of clinical services for Caron Treatment Centers of South Heidelberg Township.
“You have cases where one spouse dies and the other starts drinking, or you have cases where an addiction earlier in life may have existed and then a health condition causes someone to become addicted to painkillers or sedatives,” Blank said.
She said 76 percent of all addictions in the elderly involve alcohol. Pain relievers account for another 12 percent and sedatives, and other drugs account for the remaining 12 percent.
People 65 and older make up 13 percent of the overall population yet consume 33 percent of the drugs prescribed each year, she said.
People who have struggled with drug and alcohol addictions throughout their lives typically don’t live long enough to worry about addiction in their retirement, Blank said.
“This can be a very happy time of life, but there can also be a lot of loss and depression,” Blank said. “It can be a very lonely and sad period of time.”
Source: Reading Eagle (PA) (KRT)
