| An increasing trend among Drug and Alcohol | | | | Another alarming statistic - one-third of Americans 65 |
| Treatment Centers in Florida and across the country is | | | | and older drink alcohol, with at least 10% of that group |
| the admittance of elderly patients with substance | | | | abusing it. |
| abuse problems. Family members assume its | | | | Scientifically, studies show that drinking alcohol affects |
| dementia, and attribute falls to decreased motor | | | | the elderly differently than younger people, particularly |
| coordination that comes with age. It's why alcohol | | | | when there is already significant seeing and hearing |
| abuse among the elderly often goes unreported, and | | | | impairment. Combine that with aging organs and their |
| why senior citizens are at an even greater risk than | | | | bodies will not metabolize alcohol the same as 40 |
| their younger counterparts. | | | | years ago. |
| There are many reasons alcoholism in the elderly | | | | Elderly people typically take more medications that |
| community goes undetected - many are retired and no | | | | younger people, but some of these medications have |
| longer work on daily basis, their erratic driving is | | | | very dangerous, even fatal interactions when mixed |
| sometimes excused by law enforcement, they've lost | | | | with alcohol. There are over 150 medications that can |
| their spouse and no longer have someone looking | | | | have negative interactions with alcohol including |
| after them, they rarely leave home, and as mentioned | | | | anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, |
| earlier - their lack of coordination and sluggish | | | | anti-anxiety medications, allergy medications, sleeping |
| memories are attributed to "old age" or medication. | | | | pills, and painkillers. Despite warning labels on the bottles |
| Unlike some of their younger counterparts who begin | | | | of these medications, elderly people will still drink, often |
| drinking at a young age, those who abuse alcohol in | | | | not realizing the consequences of their behavior until it |
| the elderly community typically start drinking mid-life or | | | | is too late. |
| later on, sometimes upon retirement, after a spouse | | | | If you suspect that a loved one is suffering from |
| has died, or in the case of war veterans, when they | | | | alcoholism or alcohol abuse, there are treatment |
| start to realize their mortality and flashbacks begin. | | | | options available, even for the elderly. Sometimes an |
| They turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to ease | | | | alcohol abuse intervention is needed, and other times |
| their pain because they often feel lonely, as though | | | | people will willingly admit they have a problem and |
| they have no one to turn to. This is especially true for | | | | seek help on their own. The important thing is that you |
| aging people who have outlived most of their friends. | | | | support your loved one when entering an alcohol |
| According to statistics provided by National Center on | | | | treatment center and throughout the recovery |
| Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia | | | | process. Treating alcohol abuse, even in the elderly is |
| University, nearly one-fourth of Medicare payments for | | | | possible, but your loved ones can't do it alone. They |
| hospital visits are related to treating substance abuse. | | | | need your support. |