How does substance abuse affect elderly?
Older adults may be more likely to experience mood disorders, lung and heart problems, or memory issues. Drugs can worsen these conditions, exacerbating the negative health consequences of substance use.
Why do older people take more drugs?
Older people tend to take more drugs than younger people because they are more likely to have more than one chronic medical disorder, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis. Most drugs used by older people for chronic disorders are taken for years.
Why do older people abuse alcohol?
Alcohol use often declines in older age but older people may be at risk of developing problem drinking – alcohol abuse or dependency – often triggered by significant life events such as loss of a loved one, loneliness, retirement, insomnia, illness or pain.
How is alcohol use disorder in the elderly treated?
Elderly subjects with chronic alcohol abuse are more vulnerable to the onset of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Symptoms and signs of ALD and its complications are similar to those seen in patients of all ages, and treatment is mainly focused on alcohol abstinence (Seitz and Stickel, 2007).
Why are older adults more prone to medication toxicity?
Increased Sensitivity to Many Drugs: The problems of decreased body size, altered body composition (more fat, less water), and decreased liver and kidney function cause many drugs to accumulate in older people’s bodies at dangerously higher levels and for longer times than in younger people.
How does alcohol affect aging?
The Link Between Alcohol and Aging Alcohol causes your body to release more stress hormones 1, which speeds up the aging process. It also affects the healthy functioning of your digestive system, making it harder for you to absorb essential nutrients 2.
Which of the following can be related to alcohol abuse in older adults?
Besides the increased safety concerns alcohol brings to adults aged 65 and older, it can cause numerous health problems, and increase the risks for and consequences of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, liver and bone problems, memory issues and other neurological complications.
