Question

• What are some common addictions among older adults and why is addiction a problem among older adults?
• Addiction is often untreated among older adults; friends, family, and even health professionals may approach an older adult’s addiction from a perspective of, “They’re old—they have earned it,” or “Let them enjoy (cigarettes, alcohol, etc.).” Why might this be? What is problematic about this perspective?
• What is one way to combat or treat addiction among older adults

* please cite using APA format and provide references if appropriate.

Answer 1

There is an increase in the number of addiction among older adults and mainly over the age older than 65 years. In addition, the most common one is alcohol addiction. Thus most of the research is conducted on the substance use among and treatment of older adults has centered on alcohol use disorders (AUD). Tobacco is also more prevalence of abuse in older adults. Illicit drug use is more prevalent among American older adults. Cannabis use by older adults is considerably more prevalent than other drugs. Individual, social, and familial factors that contribute to or are associated with late-life unhealthy drinking may also apply to other substances.

The main reason for the problem of addiction in adults is due to :

• Male sex (for alcohol), female sex (for the prescription drug)
• Chronic pain

• Physical disabilities or reduced mobility

• Transitions in care/living situations

• Poor health status

• Chronic physical illness/polymorbidity

• Significant drug burden/polypharmacy

• History of alcohol problems

• Previous and/or concurrent psychiatric illness

• Bereavement

• Unexpected or forced retirement

• Social isolation (living alone or with nonspousal others)

*Addiction is often untreated among older adults; friends, family, and even health professionals may approach an older adult’s addiction from a perspective of, “They’re old—they have earned it,” or “Let them enjoy (cigarettes, alcohol, etc.).” Why because of most of the relatives/friends and even the medical professionals considered during their younger life and the middle ages they have live and earned for their families and now they became old there is nothing them to give happy for them, thus they think that let they enjoy it with.

But the main fact is that if all are considering in this way they may become more addicted to the present substance. All they were thinking of their enjoyment but they are going to a stage of debilitating conditions and chronic disease, and they may become more suffering during their older age.

*Buprenorphine and methadone are prescribed or administered under monitored, controlled conditions and are safe and effective for treating opioid addiction when used as directed. They are administered orally or sublingually (i.e., under the tongue) in specified doses.

Exercise is increasingly becoming a component of many treatment programs and has proven effective, when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy, at helping people quit smoking. Exercise may exert beneficial effects by addressing psychosocial and physiological needs that nicotine replacement alone does not, by reducing negative feelings and stress, and by helping prevent weight gain following cessation.

BRIEF INTERVENTION
- A brief intervention - one or more counseling sessions, which may include motivation for change strategies, patient education, assessment, and direct feedback, contracting and goal setting, behavioral modification techniques, and the use of written materials
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- The Frames Model:
Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathic, Self-Efficacy

- Family Interventions
a. One or two significant people in an older adult's life confront the older adult about their drinking problem under the guidance of a skilled counselor.
b. Confrontation by younger relatives should be avoided because it increases shame in the older adult.
c. Labels such as "alcoholic" should be avoided

*Alexis Kuerbis, Paul Sacco, Dan G. Blazer, and Alison A. Moore,92014) Substance Abuse Among Older Adults, HHS Public Access, doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.04.008

*Benjamin H. Han, Scott Sherman, Pia M. Mauro, Silvia S. Martins, James Rotenberg, Joseph J. Palamar,(2016) Demographic trends among older cannabis users in the United States, 2006–13, Society for the study of Addiction,  https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13670