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

COSIG Co-Occurring Disorders Conference, Hershey PA, May 15-17, 2006
Age-Appropriate Levels of
Distribution
• No more than one drink per day.
• Maximum of two drinks per occasion.
• Lower limits for women.
• “Safety zone”- foster sensible drinking that
avoids health risks, while allowing
beneficial effects that may occur from
drinking.
Types
• Early On-Set drinkers compromise the
majority of those receiving treatment.
Plus, psychiatric comorbidity is common.
• Late On-Set drinkers may appear
healthier, and are more likely to have
begun drinking due to recent losses
(death, divorce, and decreased health).
Easily overlooked by health care
providers.
Patterns of Drinking
• Continuous is ongoing drinking.
• Intermittent-is regular, daily, heavy
drinking after a period of abstinence of
three to five days.
• Binge- for older adults drinking four or
more per occasion.
Prescription Drugs
• Those age 65+ consume more
prescription drugs and over-the-counter
medications than any other age group in
the U.S.
• Older adults comprise 13% of the
population but received 25-30% of all
prescriptions.
• Experienced more than ½ of all reported
adverse drug reactions leading to
hospitalization.
Facts
• 80-86% of those 65+ suffer from one or more
chronic diseases or conditions.
• 83% of those 60+ take at least one medication.
• 30% of those aged 65+ take eight or more
prescriptions daily.
• Usually, prescriptions are for psychoactive,
mood-changing drugs that carry potential for
misuse, abuse, or dependence.
• More likely to continue use for longer periods
than younger adults.
Patterns of Use
• Elderly’s abuse usually fall within the
“misuse” category of the DSM-IV
(unintentional misuse).
• Usually because they are more likely to
misunderstand the directions for
appropriate use.
• Overdose, addictive effects, and adverse
reations are more likely to occur from
combining drugs.
4