Aging and addicted

11:08 Aging and addicted 0 Comments

Chances are that the addict living down the street from you is not a teenager but a baby boomer. A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockland, Md., study predicts that by 2020, the number of seniors with alcohol and other drug problems will jump 150 percent to 4.4 million older people — up from 1.7 million in 2001. HELP AVAILABLE Local agencies can provide support and drug counseling. In Monroe County, contact: Catholic Social Services, 724 Phillips St., Suite A, Stroudsburg, PA 18360; 570-517-0892 Northwestern Human Services, 663 Pocono Blvd., Mount Pocono, PA 18334; 570-839-3097 In Pike County, contact: Catholic Social Services, P.O. Box 1195, Milford, PA 18337; 570-296-1054 "Often considered the hidden epidemic, prescription drug and alcohol addiction continues to rise as more and more baby boomers retire," said Dr. Carl Catino of Community Psychological Center in Bangor. Older people with drug problems seeking treatment by 2020 are likely to swamp the system, according to Deborah Trunzo, coordinator for the substance abuse organization, which is operated by the U.S. government. Additionally, the study showed a drastic increase in the number of older adults suffering from co-occurring substance abuse disorders, said Dr. H. Westley Clark, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, which is part of the substance abuse organization. "What this means is when a person has substance abuse, it is only one part of the disease, and the person also suffers from depression or some other psychological disorder," he said. Signs of abuse "Look for signs of lethargy and sleeping frequently during the day," Catino said. If you are out socially with the person and he or she suddenly has a mood swing, becomes agitated or tense and wants to leave, this could be a sign of possible addiction. Sometimes the addict will complain of not feeling well, but the symptoms are vague. Falling injuries and minor accidents around the home can also be a sign that there is an abuse issue, he said. "Basically look for changes in the person's personality, especially if they are withdrawing from socialization," Catino said. Addiction causes "Many of these people thought they were going to retire and enjoy their older years, but because of the downturn in the economy, their financial security is gone," Catino said. When faced with the reality of working until the end, baby boomers often become depressed, he said. Aside from the stress of working more years than anticipated and lack of financial security, changes in lifestyle can also contribute to the large number of baby boomer addicts, he said. "Previously active and productive members of the community, they experience a void in productivity — or the children have grown and moved way," Catino said. When they have no outside interests or activities, life grows boring, making it easier to abuse drugs and alcohol, Clark said. Addictions can also be a result of the emotional traumas accompanying old age, he said. Many times, injuries, accidents and isolation or the death of a close friend, can trigger anxiety, and the person will use drugs or alcohol in an attempt to dispel it, Clark said. "It is even possible that the cause goes back to a childhood trauma or physical and sexual abuse as a child," he said. Influence of aging As baby boomers age, health problems contribute to the number of maintenance drugs taken to control diabetes, heart problems, cholesterol and several other age-related diseases, he said. These medications, when combined with other drugs, can influence how your body reacts to other drugs, especially opiates, Clark said. It can cause loss of motor control, depth perception and reaction times. Often the result is a fall in the home or a crash when driving, he said. "The best way to help the person you suspect is abusing drugs and alcohol, is to cautiously approach the matter in a calm manner," Catino said. "Nothing will be accomplished if you approach the person with a judgmental and critical attitude," he said.