Numbers Increasing in Substance Abuse
Treatment
Source:
SAMHSA News; July/August 2004
The number of substance abuse
treatment admissions among adults age 55 or older has increased.
In 2001, there were 58,000 treatment
admissions age 55 or older-about 3 percent of the 1.7 million treatment
admissions in the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), according to a new report
from SAMHSA’s Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS).
TEDS is an annual compilation of
data on admissions for substance abuse treatment.
Among admissions age 55 or older,
alcohol was reported as the primary substance of abuse more frequently than
among younger admissions (74 percent vs. 44 percent). Cocaine and marijuana were reported less
frequently among older admissions than among younger admissions (5 percent vs.
13 percent and 1 percent vs. 15 percent respectively).
Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of
older admissions reported abuse of alcohol alone, with no secondary drug abuse,
while less than one-quarter (23 percent) of admissions younger than age 55
reported abuse of alcohol alone.
In addition, admissions for age 55
and older were more likely than younger admissions to enter treatment through
self-referral (41 percent vs. 36 percent) and more likely to receive detoxification
services than younger admissions (36 percent vs. 25 percent).
Older admissions were less likely
than younger admissions to be referred through the criminal justice system (25
percent vs. 35 percent).
For a copy of the DASIS report, Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment:
2001, contact SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information at
Safety Tips
on Medicines & Alcohol for Older Adults
Combining prescriptions or using alcohol with a
particular medication may inadvertently cause depression, anxiety, or physical
health problems. As You Age… A Guide to
Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol, is an informational brochure designed to
help reduce this danger.
Following are some tips from the brochure:
*Know that some medicines do not mix will with other medications,
including over the counter
medications and herbal remedies.
*Note changes in body weight. These changes can influence the amount of
medicine needed.
*Read labels on medications carefully and follow the directions.
*Look for pictures or statements that prohibit drinking alcohol while
taking a certain medicine.
*Talk to a health care professional about all medications, including
prescription ones, over-the-
counter medicines, and
vitamins.
*Go through the medicine chest and get rid of expired medicines
regularly.
For an
electronic copy of the As You Age
brochure or other materials,
visit
SAMHSA’s Web sight at www.asyouage.samhsa.gov.
For more information, contact:
The
National
NAMI of Greater
(312) 563-0445
Fax:
312-563-0467