COSIG CONFERENCE BROCHURE.pdf - Drexel University College ...

COSIG Co-Occurring Disorders Conference, Hershey PA, May 15-17, 2006
Under lying factors
• Those who “self-medicate” are more likely to
characterize themselves as “lonely”.
• Lower life satisfaction.
• Retirement and other loses
– Death of a spouse
– Disabilities
– Chronic and painful illnesses
• Older women who drink are more likely to have
a problem-drinker spouse.
• .Depression.
Problem in the Future
• 1994’s older adult population of 33 million will
double to 80 million by 2050.
• Life expectancy is 79 years for women and 72
years for men.
• More will face chronic, limiting illnesses, or
painful health conditions (arthritis, diabetes,
etc.).
• The overall increase in alcohol problems
throughout the population coupled with the aging
of the Baby Boomers and their unique
relationship to drugs
Alcohol Problems
• Far out number any other substance
abuse problems among this age group.
• 3-25% are considered “heavy users”.
• 2.2-9.6% are considered those with
“alcohol abuse”.
• 15% of men and 12% of women have
problems with alcohol.
• Clinicians only detected one-third of
patients with the disorder.
Prescription Drugs
• Abuse of narcotics is rare except for those
who used opiates in their younger years.
• Concern of those using benzodiazepines,
sedatives, and hypnotics.
• This population is prescribed
benzodiazepines more than any other age
group.
• 17-23% are prescribed the above
medication.
Dangers of Benzodiazepines
• Have longer half-lives and they result in side
effects that influence the functioning and
cognition of these individuals.
• A greater risk for falling when under the
influence.
–Ataxia
• Excessive daytime sedation.
• Cognitive Impairment
• Attention, memory, physiological arousal and
impaired psychomotor abilities.
Barriers to Identifying Problem
• Ageism (negative stereotypes).
• Lack of awareness—denial that elderly
can be addicted.
• Clinician Behavior—Not being aware of
prescribing addictive prescriptions, or not
spending enough time with their patients
to detect the problem.
• Comorbidity
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