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

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<strong>COSIG</strong> Co-Occurring Disorders Conference, Hershey PA, May 15-17, 2006<br />

Unintentional Misuse<br />

• Poly-Pharmacy<br />

• Doctor shopping<br />

• Sharing medication<br />

• Compliance issues<br />

– “If one works two will work better”<br />

– Not taking enough<br />

– Forgot if taken on and then take another<br />

– Taking the wrong drug (confusing the bottle)<br />

Unintentional Misuse<br />

• Can progress to a person using for the<br />

“desirable effects”.<br />

• Can become physiologically dependent on<br />

psychoactive mediations without meeting<br />

dependence.<br />

• Tolerance and psychological dependence can<br />

develop when taken regularly.<br />

• An abstinance symptom or withdrawal effects<br />

may occur if a drug stopped immediately.<br />

• Can become dependent without knowing it.<br />

Risk Factors<br />

• The aging process (needing more medications because<br />

of physiological changes, accumulating physical health<br />

problems and psychosocial stressors.<br />

• Female gender<br />

• Middle/Late life divorce<br />

• Widowhood<br />

• Lack of education<br />

• Chronic somatic Problems<br />

• Increased Stress<br />

• Lower income<br />

• Depression, Anxiety<br />

System and Environmental<br />

Influences<br />

Health care systems:<br />

• Order medications without adequate<br />

diagnosis.<br />

• Prescribe medications for too long without<br />

adequate diagnosis.<br />

• Prescribe drugs with a high potential for<br />

side-effects in older adults.<br />

• Prescribe drugs without reviewing whether<br />

they interact adversely with other<br />

medications.<br />

• Diminished nervous system.<br />

• Impaired reaction time.<br />

• Loss of coordination<br />

• Ataxia<br />

• Falls<br />

• Excessive daytime drowsiness<br />

• Confusion/Rage<br />

• Amnesia/Delirium<br />

• Constipation<br />

• Dry mouth<br />

• Urinary difficulty<br />

• Withdrawal seizures<br />

• Development of dependence<br />

Adverse Effects<br />

Withdrawal of Benzodiazepines<br />

• Anxiety<br />

• Agitation<br />

• Lethargy<br />

• Nausea/Loss of Appetite<br />

• Insomnia<br />

• Dizziness<br />

• Tremor<br />

• Depersonalization<br />

• Confusion<br />

• Disappear within 3-5 weeks because they have longer<br />

half-lives (up to 200 hours). But some report side effects<br />

for several months.<br />

5

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