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By Kirsten Houmann, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Experts say substance abuse issues in the elderly are largely overlooked and need to be approached in a new way.
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According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Statistics, 38.4 percent of Americans over age 65 drink alcohol. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says although older adults comprise 13 percent of the population, they consume 30 percent of all prescription drugs. A large share of these are psychoactive and mood changing drugs medications with a large potential for abuse, misuse and dependence.
Educating the seniors in awareness of the effects of substance abuse on their daily living and their physical bodies is not really known, thought about or educated [on], Betty Rosse, Public Education Coordinator for Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., told Ivanhoe.
One of the reasons substance abuse issues are overlooked in the older population is they are living longer, creating a lack of research in that age bracket, Rosse explained. Another reason is health care providers often misdiagnose alcohol and drug abuse in those over 65. In addition, the elderly are more likely to hide substance related issues or not realize they have a problem.
They dont apply it to themselves, Raul Gordillo, Substance Abuse Supervisor for Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., told Ivanhoe. Its just something under the bridge. They see it as shameful.
Rosse and Gordillo say health care providers and relatives need to approach elderly alcohol and drug problems in an innovative way. They say for this age bracket its important to eliminate technical language when approaching the substance abuser, and use motivational language instead.
Motivational language involves speaking with the substance abuser without being confrontational or making him or her feel stereotyped. An example would be opening up the conversation with a general topic that concerns the person, like loneliness or loss.
SOURCE: 2008 Florida Conference on Aging, Aug. 10-14, 2008
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