A new study finds that educating doctors about potentially inappropriate medications for seniors may be more effective than targeting patients with similar information. The effort among Italian doctors resulted in a significant decline in the prescription of such drugs in a three-year period. The drop in potentially inappropriate medications for those aged 65 and older [...]
A broad range of prescription or nonprescription medications can potentially trigger the onset of confusion, delirium, disorientation or a number of other significant problems known collectively as cognitive impairment. Compared to the rest of the population, elderly people have relatively high risks for the onset of these medication-related impairments. Unlike younger people, who commonly develop [...]
Slurred speech. Impaired coordination. Fumbling. Are these symptoms a sign of aging? Or are they red flags for the presence of a more serious problem: alcohol addiction?
According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the number of senior citizens who have used illegal drugs doubled between 2002 and 2007.
An addiction to gambling can affect people of all ages, but older individuals may be more susceptible and it can cause greater harm. One report suggests that if a person’s addiction comes later in life, it may be more difficult for them to acknowledge that they have a problem and seek help.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has predicted that the need for substance abuse treatment services for Baby Boomers will double by the year 2020 because Substance Abuse Among Baby Boomers is On The Rise. That’s just eight years away, and it’s really not a very long time in the scheme of things.
There’s no question that life these days seems a whole lot more difficult than it did just a few short years ago. No doubt the Baby Boomers among us, generally categorized as those born between 1946 and 1955, are perhaps feeling the sting of disappointment and financial strain a bit more than some of the [...]
The elderly are an underserved population when it comes to substance abuse awareness and treatment, according to a recent report from England’s Royal College of Psychiatry. A team of substance abuse specialists from the College say that older adults bring together a unique blend of factors which place them at greater risk in situations of [...]
The number of senior citizens entering drug and alcohol treatment programs more than doubled in the past 20 years, according to a study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
As baby boomers increasingly encounter health challenges associated with aging, they are also faced with a complication: many of them are drug addicts. The combination of natural health problems with drug addiction makes treating both difficult.