Need for Drug Treatment seen in People of All Ages

Many stereotypes are attached to those who abuse drugs and are in need of drug treatment. A common picture some of those stereotypes paint is of a male, sometimes female, in their 20’s, dirty, scraggly hair and torn clothes. Though this may represent a portion of people affected by drug abuse and need drug treatment, it by no means represents all of the individuals who are in need of drug treatment.

Of course there are the high rolling business executives you hear about in the news who were recently arrested for drug abuse and are now being sent to drug treatment, the famous rock stars and actors, but there is another group of people many would never expect to be associated with any type of drug abuse or be admitted to any type of drug treatment. This group is the elderly senior citizens. In fact, the number of people struggling with drug abuse problems and seeking drug treatment amongst senior citizens may actually be increasing more quickly than the number of younger people seeking drug treatment.

The numbers of senior citizens who are seeking drug treatment are being noticed by many of the drug rehab centers, who have been admitting an increasing population of senior citizens into their drug treatment programs. Though this may come as a surprise to many, the truth is, drug abuse among the senior citizen population is not a new problem at all; instead it has actually been going on for years.

Why Drug Treatment has seen an Increase among Senior Citizens

Robert Higgins, of New York State’s Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, stated that a majority of the senior citizens seen with drug abuse problems have been abusing drugs for over 20 years. While alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among the senior citizen population, prescription drug abuse comes in number two. The use of marijuana, cocaine and heroin are also drugs abused by some senior citizens. Because drug rehab and drug treatment centers have reported a notable increase of senior citizens being admitted to their drug treatment facilities in recent years, it’s estimated that between 1995 and 2002, drug abuse in older adult men has risen around 106%, and 119% in older adult women. This enormous increase of seniors seeking drug treatment for their drug abuse problems has raised concern in some drug treatment facilities because they are having difficulty finding enough staff qualified to assist these seniors with their problems of drug abuse.

Baby Boomers and Drug Treatment

We’ve all heard of the baby boomer generation, and this generation seems to be first generation of senior citizens with a notable portion struggling with drug abuse and in need of drug treatment. During the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, many of these senior citizens were teenagers or young adults, and drugs were the thing to do. Because some of those teenagers and young adults may have never received the drug treatment they needed to remove drugs from their normal way of life, this could be partially to blame for the dramatic increase of older adults seen in drug treatment centers.

The fact remains that drug abuse is not bound by age, nor race, wealth, background, or sex. Drug abuse can affect anyone, and as the statistics have proven, it definitely has. Thankfully, along with the growing number of senior citizens struggling with drug abuse problems, the number of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities has grown as well. And since the dramatic increase of older adults seeking drug treatment was initially reported by drug rehab centers and the ages of those admitted to those centers, it also reveals that the number of people who are actively seeking help from drug treatment facilities may be on the rise as well.

Statistics Prove More People are Seeking Drug Treatment

Statistics to that effect are supported by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, who reported that in adults over 50, who were admitted to drug treatment programs for the abuse of heroin, rose from 7,000 to 27,000 between the years of 1992 and 2002 alone. Adults over 50 who were being treated for cocaine addiction rose from around 3,000 to 13,000. The percentage of older adults who were in drug treatment for prescription painkiller addiction increased from 6.8% to 12% from 1995 to 2002, which made prescription drugs the second most frequent drug being abused by patients in drug treatment centers.

Remember that drug abuse doesn’t discriminate, and if you think someone you care about may be struggling with drug abuse and in need of drug treatment, or you are yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are thousand of drug treatment centers out there more than willing to help you free yourself of the demons who have controlled you for years. Don’t be afraid to take your life back; a sober life may be the life that saves you.