Elderly. Among the topics covered are the misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications, particularly pain relievers and sleep aids, the increasing use of illegal substances, the co-morbidity of substance abuse with other mental and physical disorders, such as dementia/disease, Alzheimer’s and issues pertaining to elderly heroin addicts and patients …
Deficits in cognition, vision, hearing and strength, all of which commonly occur with the aging process, could increase the likelihood of medication misuse. For example, an elderly person who is forgetful may overuse or underuse medications.
What Are Some Health Issues Associated With Medication Misuse Or Abuse By The Elderly Course Hero? ... To keep aging feet healthy and reduce the risk of health issues indirectly caused by foot problems, use these 8 essential senior foot care tips. Keep feet clean. Moisturize feet .
Why is nitrofurantoin listed in the Beers list as being inappropriate for use in the elderly? Chronic administration of nitrofurantoin has been associated with the potential for development of pulmonary toxicity. In addition, diminished renal function can lead to inadequate concentration of the medication in urine.
Abstract. One quarter of the prescription drugs sold in the United States are used by the elderly, often for problems such as chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. The prevalence of abuse may be as high as 11 percent with female gender, social isolation, depression, and history of substance abuse increasing risk.
Drug abuse can affect several aspects of a person's physical and psychological health. Certain drugs can lead to drowsiness and slow breathing, while others may cause insomnia, paranoia, or hallucinations. Chronic drug use is associated with cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease.Jun 17, 2020
Older adults are more likely to unintentionally misuse medicines by forgetting to take their medicine, taking it too often, or taking the wrong amount. Some older adults may take substances to cope with big life changes such as retirement, grief and loss, declining health, or a change in living situation.Jul 9, 2020
Abusing OTC diet medications come with many risks, such as:Increased chance of stroke or heart attack.Gastrointestinal issues.Liver and kidney damage.Dehydration.Hallucinations or delusions.Depression and anxiety.Aug 1, 2021
Drug misuseillegal drugs,alcohol,tobacco,prescribed medicines including painkillers, sleeping tablets, and cold remedies,khat (a leaf that is chewed over several hours), and.glues, aerosols, gases and solvents.May 20, 2009
You probably know that drugs affect feelings and moods, judgment, decision making, learning, and memory. But they can also cause or worsen other health problems—cancer; heart disease; lung disease; liver function; mental disorders; and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
Alcohol Use Despite increasing rates of illicit and prescription drug misuse among adults older than 65 years,5,6,10 alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among older adults.Jun 12, 2014
Hypertension, a major contributor to atherosclerosis, is the most common chronic disease of older adults (23). Isolated systolic hypertension is particularly common among older adults and is associated with mortality even at advanced ages.Dec 11, 2017
never stopping or changing a dosing regimen without first discussing it with the doctor. never using another person's prescription and never giving their prescription medications to others. storing prescription stimulants, sedatives, and opioids safely.Jun 16, 2020
What is drug misuse?Taking the incorrect dose.Taking the drug at the wrong time.Forgetting to take a dose.Stopping the use of a drug too soon.Taking a drug for reasons other than why they were prescribed.Taking a drug that was not prescribed to you.Aug 19, 2020
Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed; taking someone else's prescription, even if for a legitimate medical complaint such as pain; or taking a medication to feel euphoria (i.e., to get high).Jun 16, 2020
The most common reasons for misuse the last time were to relax or relieve tension (46.2 percent) and to help with sleep (21.2 percent). About 4.8 million adults misused prescription stimulants at least once in the past year.Jul 27, 2017
Substance abuse and misuse are mostly ignored among the elderly mainly because the symptoms of drug abuse are similar to those of the health conditions suffered by the elderly (Crome and Crome 1). Recently, substance abuse and misuse among the elderly has become an area of interest and the Washington State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse has made it a priority area for attention and action (Carlson iii). According to Patterson and Jeste, the number of elderly people abusing illicit drugs as well as those addicted to alcohol is expected to increase as the baby- bloom generation ages as this generation has more people abusing drugs than the previous generations. The misuse of prescription drugs and over the counter drugs is also expected to increase. According to Winkei, the number of elderly people over the age of fifty suffering from drug addiction doubled between the year 1992 and 2008 and the number is likely to keep growing. While analyzing substance abuse and misuse among the elderly, it is imperative that a personone takes time to look at the different drugs they are prone to abuse and misuse, the factors leading to the drug abuse, the effects of gender on the abuse and misuse and factors that make it difficult to deal with the abuse and misuse.
The other problem facing the elderly is loneliness and isolation which may make them rely on drugs to react to psychosomatic illnesses . They also misuse sleeping pills and antidepressants. The media promote this behavior in the elderly by airing drug advertisements for various conditions that target the elderly (Davies and Janosik 269). The elderly also have a limited amount of money which may lead them to use drugs from a previous prescription to save money (qtd. In Davies and Janosik 269). Using the prescription drugs inappropriately results in drug sharing, longer usage of drugs, higher dosage, persistent use and dependency. In most cases, substance abuse by the elderly is unintentional and accidental (Verster, Brandy, Galanter and Conrod 456).
Gender differences affect drug abuse among the elderly. Older women who become alcoholics are likely to be widowed or divorced and to have been married to an alcoholic or to have suffered depression, women suffer most from alcoholism and are more likely to abuse prescription medication and tend to drink with their spouses. Older men are more prone to illicit drug abuse as compared to older women (qtd. in Yoshida 23).more elderly men are likely to abuse alcohol than women (Carlson 19). When it comes to prescription drugs, women are more prone to misuse and abuse compared to men. According to Lamy, women get up to two and a half times more prescription drugs than men (qtd. In Carlson 20).