Substance Abuse in the Elderly: Am I Too Old for Rehab?

Substance abuse is a leading cause of serious health complications and death across the globe. The public eye now recognizes that it’s a disease that needs professional care. Yet, most discussions of rehab and treatment revolve around younger generations.

Seniors and elders may not feel that their age group is welcome in treatment centers, or that perhaps their age should be a reason to evade seeking help. This is where drug and alcohol rehab for seniors proves this idea is wrong.

At Harmony Ridge Recovery, we go above and beyond to ensure that seniors and all others are welcome and treated with specialized care from our staff. Regardless of the duration of the addiction and age of the individual struggling with substance abuse, we have the knowledge, resources, and compassion to guide you to sobriety.

Substance abuse can affect anyone. There is no one type of person who struggles with addiction. In the case of elderly people struggling with addiction, there are many different avenues that could have led to it. Some triggers that may lead to addiction in seniors include:

• Mental and physical health decline
• Loss of a loved one
• Retirement
• Chronic pain
• Financial difficulties
• Stress

A lot of elderly people have struggled for many years and simply never sought help. Just like with younger people, senior citizens also experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, and fear around seeking help for their addiction.

When they do decide to seek help, it could stem from health complications or the general desire to improve their life. It could also come from their loved ones urging them to seek help so they can live life to the fullest.

When it comes to seeking help for addiction, it doesn’t matter how help is sought. It only matters that help is found, and the journey to sobriety can begin. It is never too late to recover.

Prescription Medications in Elderly

It’s not uncommon for seniors to become addicted to drugs through recreational use. However, many seniors can become addicted to substances for the first time in their lives at a later age after being prescribed painkillers.

This is common in cases such as surgeries, injuries, chronic pain, and long-term illnesses. Unfortunately, even if taken as prescribed, narcotics always have the chance of leading to addiction. In these cases, it’s better to seek help at the first signs of addiction.

It can be difficult to understand whether or not you’re experiencing signs of addiction, or if you need the medication due to pain. Talk to your provider about any concerns you may have, and it’s always better safe than sorry. Some signs of addiction to narcotics in the elderly include:

• Wanting refills on medication before they are due
• Taking more than the prescribed dose
• Complaining about new pain that didn’t exist before the prescription of the medication

If you’re experiencing addiction to prescription medication, it’s important to seek treatment for yourself as soon as possible to avoid any more complications. Especially if your children or grandchildren have expressed concern.

Although most people associate substance abuse with younger generations, The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported in 2018 that nearly 1 million elderly people (65 and older) live with a substance abuse disorder (SUD). They projected that number to increase anywhere from three to seven percent each year.

Substance abuse affects everyone negatively, but seniors are at higher risks for health complications and declining health. Drug use negatively impacts mood, coordination, memory, judgment calls, and immunity. These are all things that are already risk factors for seniors. Drug use could worsen or accelerate these symptoms and lead to accidents.

 Some other risks include:

• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Confusion
• Co-occurring conditions
• Increased chance of bone fractures
• Adverse drug reactions

Sometimes seniors don’t realize that they have become addicted to drugs or alcohol. They could also feel hesitant to admit it over the fear of judgment or unwillingness to seek help. In many cases, seniors have been addicted to drugs or alcohol for years. They just never labeled it as a problem.

Eventually, when the addiction starts to interfere with daily life, seeking help is inevitable. If you are concerned for a loved one and their potential of struggling with substance abuse, some common signs of addiction to consider for seniors include:

• New memory problems
• Sleep issues or insomnia
• Irritability, depression, or habitual sadness
• Loss of interest in hobbies or community
• Declining hygiene
• Isolation
• New chronic pain
• Changes In appearance

These symptoms don’t always correspond with drug addiction, but it’s important to talk to your loved one if you recognize these signs in them. Elderly people tend to have more health problems and take more medications that come with side effects. Communication between them and someone they trust is the key to avoiding addiction or addressing a developing one. Sometimes, an open conversation can be the determining factor in whether or not an elderly loved one decides to seek help.

A drug and alcohol rehab for seniors should look relatively similar to that of any other individuals program. A comprehensive intake will be taken and looked over. This ensures all aspects of the person’s health, history, addiction, and life experience is taken into consideration.

Treatment will begin with a full detox to rid the body of any drugs, alcohol, or related toxins. From there, depending on the addiction, seniors will be advised to attend either an inpatient or outpatient recovery program to ensure their sobriety is maintained.

Some things to take into consideration when building a treatment program for seniors include:

• Their overall health and wellbeing aside from drug use. Consider heart health, mobility, and mental health.
• Age-related addiction aspects. Consider interacting medications, prescribed medications, and family situations.
• Their willingness to receive help. It’s important to discuss with seniors the stigma around treatment and make sure they feel welcomed. It’s also important to make sure they feel comfortable in a facility with younger individuals.
• Their support system. Talking with seniors about their family life and getting an idea of who they have in their life to support them is important. If they do not have a stable support system, it’s crucial to give them access to other resources like support groups, therapists, etc.