Cannabis for Seniors: Why Older Adults Are Opting for Medical Marijuana The New York Times
We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders. Physicians rely on the criteria outlined by the DSM to diagnose substance abuse disorder in the general population. That is perhaps the main reason for misdiagnosis and lack of treatment of seniors – these criteria are less relevant to them. NSDUH is an annual survey that collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence.
- Because prescription drug misuse is the second most common form of illicit drug use in the United States, prescription drug misuse among older adults is an issue to examine with NSDUH prescription drug questions that were added in 2015, although this analysis will require pooled years of data.
- A growing body of research demonstrates that in practice, harm reduction approaches build trust, avoid stigmatization and judgements, (Smye et al., 2011) and improve health overall (Pauly et al., 2018).
- Native American and Alaska Native people aged 65 and over experienced the biggest increase in age-adjusted alcohol-induced death rates in 2020, with the rate climbing almost 50 percent from 2019.
- Misuse can lead to falls and injuries, exacerbate underlying medical conditions and worsen declines in cognition.
Although this was not the chief cause of drug-related ED visits for this age group, use of illicit drugs, use of drugs combined with alcohol, and nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals resulted in nearly 300 ED visits each day. When assessing or speaking to older adults about substance use, some general considerations should apply. NSDUH collects data from a nationally representative sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/abuse-in-older-adults-a-growing-threat/ aged 12 or older. NSDUH data are collected through face-to-face, computer-assisted interviews at the respondent’s place of residence. TEDS is a nationwide compilation of data on the demographic and substance use characteristics of admissions to substance abuse treatment. TEDS data are reported to SAMHSA by state substance abuse agencies and include information on admissions aged 12 and older to facilities that receive some public funding.
Signs of Substance Abuse in the Elderly
SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. On an average day during the past month, 132,000 older adults used marijuana and 4,300 used cocaine (Figure 1). In this report, the «average day» estimates are presented for only marijuana and cocaine. Because of small sample sizes, «average day» estimates of crack, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants could not be produced.
However, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual nationally representative study of the U.S. population ages 12 and older, show that drug use among adults ages 65 and older increased from 19.3 percent in 2012 to 31.2 percent in 2017 (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2019). Furthermore, recent cohorts of individuals ages 65 and older tend to show a higher prevalence of lifetime substance use than that seen in prior generations (Chhatre et al., 2017). A family history of substance abuse or addiction can also be a risk factor for seniors developing addiction issues.
What is a Substance Use Disorder?
However, research on this is mixed, and the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. There is also evidence that many people continue to use both delivery systems to inhale nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Marijuana’s medicinal properties have not been well https://ecosoberhouse.com/ studied, particularly among older users, making it difficult for doctors to counsel their patients on the benefits and risks. Cannabis companies have rushed to fill the void, offering tips to older adults about doses or formulations and even creating products meant to appeal to them.
- The myth that older adults do not use substances and/or do not use substances problematically has been dispelled.
- Reducing these neurotransmitters has been linked with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, increasing one’s risk for substance abuse or addiction.
- Often, substance use is very difficult to identify, assess, and treat in this population, as too often, the signs and symptoms of substance use are dismissed by clinicians, who see these symptoms as those of old age (Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction, 2018; De Jong et al., 2016; Steinhagen & Friedman, 2008).
There is a definite need for enhanced awareness by health care providers around the growing problem of substance use in the older adult population. Population predictions indicate that by 2036, approximately 25% of the Canadian population will be over the age of 65 (Statistics Canada, 2018). As the world’s population continues to get older, there is a growing need for assessments, treatments, and services that target older adults with substance use issues. Addressing the social context of substance use can help nurses and other health care providers better understand the complex context of older people experiencing substance use issues. Using an intersectionality and social justice approach in combination with a harm reduction lens permits an opportunity to address the root causes of substance use, allowing for comprehensive, context?specific, and tailored patient care.
Box 1 Risk factors related to substance use in late life
It is important to note that many of the health benefits of moderate alcohol use for older adults may come with negative trade-offs. As a philosophy, harm reduction centres on respecting the rights of individuals and appreciating the intersecting variables in the context of their lives. As a policy, harm reduction is a set of pragmatic approaches designed to minimize harmful consequences of substance use. Generally, practicing harm reduction means accepting people as they are, avoiding judgement, emphasizing the dignity of people, being compassionate, and challenging existing policies and practices that may cause unnecessary harm to individuals (EQUIP Health Care, 2017).
Publicado el 16/8/2023 Categoría Sober living.
Comentarios: 0
