Substance Abuse Treatment – Seniors and Addiction   by Jason Main

By Roy McKinley, Orchard Counselor

Addiction can occur at any age, including the senior years. A patient may have been abusing drugs or alcohol for years, or they may have turned to these substances more recently, as a way of dealing with feelings of grief, financial stress, loneliness or health problems. Some begin by abusing medications that were prescribed to them for legitimate medical issues. When seniors mix alcohol with prescription drugs, the results can be deadly.

Addiction Treatment Centers, including The Orchard, are experiencing a steady increase in the number of older clients seeking Substance Abuse Treatment.

Ruth Sanchez-Way, of the US Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), has coined substance abuse issues among older adults the “Silent Epidemic”. CSAP reports that about 17% of older Americans 60 years of age and older misuse prescription drugs, alcohol or both. At a recent National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) forum, US officials reported that they expected the number of older adults with alcohol and drug issues to increase by 150% by 2020.

Although illicit drugs, such as crystal meth and cocaine aren’t the main offenders in this demographic, drug use among older, generally frailer, individuals brings special concerns.

At the Orchard Drug Addiction Treatment center, our team of addiction specialists, ASAM certified medical staff, and therapists specialize in a wide range of addiction-related Issues, including those unique to seniors.

Some characteristics unique to this group:

* Limited self-referral due to isolation, shame, denial, lack of purpose or an attitude of, “I’m too old to stop, so why bother?”
* Reluctance of family members to respectfully challenge their elderly relatives regarding their alcohol and drug misuse.
Treatment is provided through medical, psychological, spiritual and holistic means at The Orchard. Our goal is to strengthen the whole person. We firmly believe that it is never too late to discover the joy of a sober lifestyle.

We believe strongly in providing drug addiction treatment in a non-threatening, non-judgmental environment of engagement that promotes body, mind and spirit healing with an emphasis on purpose and meaning.

About the Author

Roy McKinley, BGS, ICADC, specializes in helping clients discover their purpose and meaning in life and recovery. He has extensive experience working with clients who have complex issues, including those diagnosed with concurrent disorders. Roy has been a counselor at the Orchard substance abuse treatment center since September 2006.
Atmosphere – Substance Abuse

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