Recovery Month Kit

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• Prevalence and Effects of Substance Use Disorders Among Older Adults
• Symptoms to Look for in Older Adults
• Getting Help for an Older Adult
• Sources

Although stress occurs at any age, older adults face distinct challenges as they transition to new stages in life, such as retirement or an empty nest. For some, this stress may contribute to a substance use disorder or a relapse in substance use after periods of abstinence, and this document examines the impact and ways to help older adults with substance use disorders.¹

For more than 20 years, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month), sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has educated the public about addiction and recovery issues. The celebration encourages all people to seek treatment for substance use disorders, celebrates individuals and families in long-term recovery, and acknowledges those working in the field who provide recovery services. This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!,” emphasizes the elevated levels of stress that individuals face today due to an array of circumstances, and how this stress can contribute to substance use disorders or relapse.

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Prevalence and Effects of Substance Use Disorders Among Older Adults

Substance use disorders have become more prevalent among middle aged and older adults and continue to become a greater public health issue as the baby boomers reach retirement age. Among people ages 50 to 59, reported use of illicit drugs has nearly doubled since 2002.²

Older adults are more sensitive to the effects of substance use as they age for the following reasons:

• Due to physiological changes associated with aging, 3 drinks may affect them more heavily than people in their early twenties.³
• They may misuse substances both deliberately, due to increased stress and pain, and inadvertently by mixing medications or taking them with alcohol or for purposes not originally prescribed by a doctor. ⁴
• The medications they are taking and their general health affect how they respond to alcohol and drugs.⁵

Many older adults experience addiction:

• 50 percent of those in assisted living homes have an alcohol problem.⁶
• 26 percent of assisted living residents have misused prescription drugs.⁷

Avoiding the misuse of alcohol and medications contributes to lower rates of illness and disability among older adults.⁸

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Symptoms to Look for in Older Adults

Addiction in older adults may be difficult to detect when they live alone. Friends and family may not consider substance use problems as the issue, and may think that their loved one suffers from depression, memory or thinking problems, or anxiety.⁹ Look for symptoms such as slurred speech, poor hygiene and self-neglect, and unexplained nausea or vomiting. ¹⁰ If these symptoms are present, encourage the person to seek help–or in some cases, you may need to broach the topic with the person’s health care provider yourself.

Getting Help for an Older Adult

Use the following tips when speaking with older adults regarding specific addiction and treatment options:¹¹

• Talk about your worries about their substance use when they are lucid.
• Share information regarding the effects of alcohol and drugs on their health.
• Ask to go to doctor’s visits with them or contact the doctor yourself, if appropriate.
• Suggest alcohol- and drug-free activities.
• Encourage counseling and offer to drive them to and from these meetings.
• Be supportive and encourage them to make time for grandchildren, family gatherings, friends, and extracurricular activities.

The initial treatment of addiction in older adults may require more intensive medical support than younger patients need, but ultimately older adults succeed in treatment more than any other age group.^{12, 13}

There are a variety of resources available on the Recovery Month Web site and the SAMHSA Web site for individuals seeking treatment and recovery. In addition, refer to the following resources geared toward older adults, including:

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline – Accessed by calling 1-800-662-HELP, or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD), the Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential information and treatment referrals in English and Spanish.
• SAMHSA’s “Find Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment” Web site – This Web site contains resources about mental health, substance abuse, and treatment.
• SAMHSA’s “As You Age” Web site – This SAMHSA-sponsored Web site provides information and resources on medications and alcohol misuse for older adults.
• National Institute on Aging Information Center – This center provides research, training, health information, and programs relevant to aging and older adults. The center can also be accessed by calling 1-800-222-4225.
• Eldercare Locator – This resource helps older individuals and their families access an array of home and community-based services. This resource can also be accessed by calling 1-800-677-1116.
• National Council on Patient Information and Education – This coalition works to improve communication of information on appropriate medicine use to consumers.

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Click here for a more in-depth version of this guide for older adults.  

Information about treatment options and special services in your area can be found by calling 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD), as well as http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment.

Inclusion of Web sites and other resources mentioned in this document and on the Recovery Month Web site does not constitute official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Sources

1. Stressful Events Can Influence Drugs, Alcohol Use. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America Web site: http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/Features/Stressful_Events_Can_Influence_Drug_Alcohol. Accessed July 20, 2009.
2. An Examination of Trends in Illicit Drug Use Among Adults Aged 50 to 59 in the United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. Press Release, August 19, 2009.
3. Rigler, Sally, M.D. “Alcoholism in the Elderly.” University of Kansas School of Medicine, The American Academy of Family Physicians, March 15, 2000.
4. Ibid.
5. Colleran, Carol and Debra Jay. “Aging and Addiction: Helping Older Adults Overcome Alcohol or Medication Dependence.” A Hazelden Guidebook, 2002.
6. Ibid.
7. Gever, Matthew. “Snapshot: Emerging Issues.” Substance Abuse Snapshot, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2008.
8. Substance Abuse and Misuse Among Older Adults. Geriatric Mental Health Foundation Web site: http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/substnabuse_factsheet.html. Accessed September 29, 2009.
9. Ibid.
10. Colleran, Carol and Debra Jay. “Aging and Addiction: Helping Older Adults Overcome Alcohol or Medication Dependence.” A Hazelden Guidebook, 2002.
11. For Families, Friends, and Caregivers. The National Institute on Aging Web site: http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/AlcoholBooklet/04_friends. Accessed September 22, 2009.
12. Drug Addiction–Addiction Treatment for Older Adults and Seniors.
    Drug Addiction Web site: http://www.drug-addiction.com/senior_treatment.htm. Accessed September 21, 2009.
13. Colleran, Carol and Debra Jay. “Aging and Addiction: Helping Older Adults Overcome Alcohol or Medication Dependence.” A Hazelden Guidebook, 2002.

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