Pain-Killer Abuse Increasing Among Older Adults
Updated June 08, 2015.
As older Americans turn to pain pills to combat the aches and pains of aging, more are becoming addicted to the opiate-based drugs, causing the number of seniors seeking treatment for addiction to almost double.
A new study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the eight-year period 1995-2002 shows that substance abuse treatment jumped 32 percent among older adults.
Although alcohol is still the most frequent reason seniors seek treatment, the number of older Americans reporting abuse of opiates as their primary substance of abuse increased from 6.8 percent to 12 percent between 1995-2002, according to the SAMHSA report, "Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment: Update."
"We are only beginning to realize the pervasiveness of substance abuse among older adults," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a news release. "We have made older adults a priority at SAMHSA and we are working to advance understanding of the relationship between aging and substance abuse, and to provide practical information for incorporating our understanding into treatment services. Through the materials we are releasing today, we are reaching out now to older adults to warn them that prescription pain relievers are safe and effective when used correctly, but could lead to abuse and addiction if misused."
The findings of the study prompted SAMHSA and the Food and Drug Administration to launch an advertisement campaign encouraging older adults to "Do the Right Dose" when taking prescription pain relievers.
The ads will appear in the print media, on television and radio. SAMHSA is also producing two posters for the campaign and updating it's "As You Age" brochure. The message of the campaign is pain medications are safe and effective only if taken as directed.
The report showed that alcohol is still the primary substance of abuse among older adults, but the percentage of those seeking treatment for alcohol dropped from 86.5 percent to 77.5 percent from 1995-2002, while drug admissions to treatment centers for those 55 and older increased by 106 percent for men and 119 percent for women.
Source: SAMSHA News Release
As older Americans turn to pain pills to combat the aches and pains of aging, more are becoming addicted to the opiate-based drugs, causing the number of seniors seeking treatment for addiction to almost double.
A new study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the eight-year period 1995-2002 shows that substance abuse treatment jumped 32 percent among older adults.
Although alcohol is still the most frequent reason seniors seek treatment, the number of older Americans reporting abuse of opiates as their primary substance of abuse increased from 6.8 percent to 12 percent between 1995-2002, according to the SAMHSA report, "Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment: Update."
"We are only beginning to realize the pervasiveness of substance abuse among older adults," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a news release. "We have made older adults a priority at SAMHSA and we are working to advance understanding of the relationship between aging and substance abuse, and to provide practical information for incorporating our understanding into treatment services. Through the materials we are releasing today, we are reaching out now to older adults to warn them that prescription pain relievers are safe and effective when used correctly, but could lead to abuse and addiction if misused."
The findings of the study prompted SAMHSA and the Food and Drug Administration to launch an advertisement campaign encouraging older adults to "Do the Right Dose" when taking prescription pain relievers.
Only As Directed
"FDA collaborated with SAMHSA to develop these public education materials because our agencies have a shared goal to communicate accurate health information on the proper use of prescription pain medications," said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Operations Dr. Janet Woodcock. "While SAMHSA's data indicate significant growth in opiate abuse, we are just as concerned about those cases of addiction to pain medications that go underdiagnosed. We want to send a clear message to older adults that emphasizes the need to take pain relievers as directed."The ads will appear in the print media, on television and radio. SAMHSA is also producing two posters for the campaign and updating it's "As You Age" brochure. The message of the campaign is pain medications are safe and effective only if taken as directed.
The report showed that alcohol is still the primary substance of abuse among older adults, but the percentage of those seeking treatment for alcohol dropped from 86.5 percent to 77.5 percent from 1995-2002, while drug admissions to treatment centers for those 55 and older increased by 106 percent for men and 119 percent for women.
Source: SAMSHA News Release
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