Signs of Substance Abuse in Your Loved Ones

Seriousness and different forms of manifestation of the problem in individuals depend on the substances used. At Orlando Treatment Solutions, everyone embraces and conveys the notion that an individualized plan is the best way to treat an individual. Our treatment programs are based on research and we ensure that all factors that are going to influence your recovery are considered.

Substance abuse in older individuals may manifest differently and with more serious consequences. At Orlando Treatment Solutions, we understand the value of a tailored addiction treatment approach. Our evidence-based treatment programs take into account all aspects that will impact your recovery.

Contact us now at (321) 415-3213 to listen to what we offer you and how our therapy is unique for those with drug use issues.

How Serious is Substance Abuse in Loved Onces?

Substance abuse has been reported by the National Institutes of Health to have raised its ante in individuals, especially those at sixty-five years of age and senior. Far more people in this age group have been taken into alcohol and prescription drug rehabilitation programs than in the past decades.

This is more so because, drug addiction can be more dangerous for individuals than for young people for example. Alcohol to some people is moderate drinking or casual drug use among youths may have severe health hazards to people 60 or senior. Conditions that contribute to a person’s deterioration as he or she ages, might compromise the strength of the immune response, as well as the tolerance to toxic agents including drugs and alcohol.

Seniors and Substance Abuse

According to the latest data from SAMHSA’s NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health).

The age group above 65 years of age accounts for 5.1% of the total alcohol use problems.

People over the age of 65 account for 1.5% of all drug use problems.

Although researchers still don’t know much about how alcohol and drugs affect the aging brain, studies show that seniors absorb substances more slowly. Similarly, the elderly feel the effects of brain medications more strongly.

According to some studies, cocaine usage in adolescents may raise the risk of unfavorable consequences later in life. This is linked to a reduction in gray matter in the brain.

According to SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration), senior people are more likely to encounter the following:

– Lung problems
– Heart problems
– Memory issues
– Mood Disorders

Alcohol or drugs consumption can worsen all these problems and as a result increase negative health impacts.

Further, some intoxicants result in slower response, lack of coordination, and bad decision making. Age related injuries typical of falls and automobile accidents are more hazardous to the well being of the senior than those of a younger health. The recovery period takes even longer for the senior persons.

What Causes Substance Abuse in the Elderly?

Moreover, to meet the needs of senior individuals who are experiencing drug addiction problems, it is needed to reveal the aims that force them to take substances. The reason young people use drugs or alcohol in different from that of the elderly but not entirely different. Some of the most common reasons an senior person may abuse drugs or alcohol include:

To be prescribed pain medicines for use in the event of an injury. In other circumstances, you get involved in accidents, surgeries, or procedures that prescribe opioid painkillers in your old age. These are very addictive and most people suffer from the side effect of being dependant on their prescribed medicine.

Prescriptions for mental health problems are more commonly used by the elderly. They may be given benzodiazepines or sedatives, both of which are highly addictive.

The chances of drug interactions – Elderly people are inclined to use high blood pressure, cholosterol or diabetic drugs. If they take the prescribed opioids concurrently with prescription pain relievers, antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medicines, they will have severe drug interactions.

Because people become more sensitive to the effects of drugs or alcohol as they age, they may be unaware of their susceptibility to substance abuse and addiction. If they consumed these substances when they were young, they may believe that they can continue consuming the same amounts as before.

However, their bodies are no longer capable of toting and processing such chemicals in the way that it used to when they were young. Consequently, drug use in senior people should be addressed immediately to prevent addition and fatality in senior people.

Orlando Treatment Solutions: Treatment for Substance Abuse

Aging individuals may experience changes in mood, memory, and vitality, making it more difficult to identify drug addiction in the elderly. If you notice changes in a senior you care about, contact Orlando Treatment Solutions at (321) 415-3213 for help diagnosing and treating substance abuse in loved ones.