an older woman clasps her hands together as she thinks about prescription drug abuse and senior citizens

Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise in Senior Citizens

In the late 1900s, pharmacology companies assured medical professionals that there was no risk of becoming addicted to prescription medications. As a result, doctors and nurses freely wrote prescriptions for these medicines. Unfortunately, the companies were wrong. As a result, prescription drug addiction has risen over the past few decades. The words “opioid crisis” have been in the news for several years now. Around the country, people have struggled with addiction to prescription drugs. However, usually, when you think of an addict, you think of a person in their 20s. Unfortunately, today there is a link between prescription drug abuse and senior citizens. To learn more about this link, contact Promises Behavioral Health today.

The Link Between Prescription Drug Abuse and Senior Citizens

Over the past three decades, adults and children have been increasingly exposed to regular prescription drug use. Medications are routinely prescribed for ailments that range from minor to serious and everything in between. Unfortunately, many of these drugs have the potential to create a chemical or psychological dependency within their users.

Though problems are also on the rise with teenagers and young adults, it is the adult population over the age of 65 who have developed the most serious problem with prescription drug abuse. Seniors most often abuse pain killers, tranquilizers, and medications that treat depression. With so many prescription drugs available on the market to treat chronic pain symptoms, stress, and anxiety, it is no wonder that so many older adults have developed serious addictions to them.

One school of thought regarding this problem is that medical practitioners need to begin a regular practice of treating people beyond the surface.  In other words, rather than simply treating the obvious symptom (pain, stress, etc.) patients would be better served if they were treated in a more thoughtful manner. For instance, if people were sent through a long-term regimen of physical therapy, counseling, or pain management they might develop the skills and abilities that are necessary to be able to handle their physical ailments without the continuous use of pills.

It is particularly important that older adults do not attempt to stop their regular use of any medication without first consulting their physician. With some medications, it is simply too dangerous to suddenly stop using them. Of course, there is a smart way to stop using any type of prescription drug. That is to seek the assistance of a trained substance abuse professional.

Get Treatment Today

If you have personal experience with the link between prescription drug abuse and senior citizens, it’s time to get help from professionals. For instance, at Promises Behavioral Health, we offer a variety of addiction treatments and therapies, including:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy
  • Individual therapy
  • Yoga therapy
  • Meditation therapy

Yo don’t have to spend your golden years struggling with prescription drug addiction. For more information on how to help fix the link between prescription drug abuse and senior citizens, call Promises today at 844.875.5609. Get the caring treatment you need at Promises today.

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