Prescription Drug Abuse Among the ElderlySenior IssuesBy Promises AustinDecember 8, 2014Americans of all ages have fallen victim to the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and addiction. The consequences are serious, including a tripling in the number of overdose deaths from prescription drugs in the U.S. since 1990. While people of all ages, socioeconomic groups, and races are vulnerable to prescription drug abuse, one group is…
Drug Use Surges Among Baby BoomersSenior IssuesBy Promises AustinOctober 8, 2013Addiction rehab centers across the U.S. are seeing more of an older demographic than your typical troubled teen or young adult: baby boomers. According to a new government study, addiction rates among baby boomers are on the rise. Substance addiction among men and women in their 50s and 60s comes with its own set of…
Proven Mood Boosters If You’re Over 50 and Feeling BlueSenior IssuesBy Promises AustinSeptember 30, 2013It’s not uncommon for depression to develop (or recur if you have a history) later in life. This can be due to a variety of reasons – both psychological (e.g. suddenly coping with an empty nest) and physiological (e.g. age-related health issues, menopause). Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. They may include…
FDA Says Antidepressant Works on Hot FlashesMental Health - WomenBy Promises AustinSeptember 12, 2013It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke—women have been on the receiving end of jokes and quips about menopause in all its hot-flashing, mood-roller-coastering, sleep-destroying glory for decades—and now antidepressants can be prescribed for some of these symptoms. I can hear women all over the United States uttering their most sarcastic “really?” and…
Geriatric Alcoholism: A Story About DenialAlcohol AbuseBy Promises AustinAugust 16, 2013Let’s start off with full disclosure: I am a psychotherapist and have worked in addiction and mental health settings for a couple of decades. I am no stranger to identifying and naming alcoholism when I see it, which does not exactly make me popular at cocktail parties or family gatherings. Sometimes, however, being able to…
