The Opioid Epidemic and the Elderly
The opioid addiction and overdose is the leading cause of death for people from their early twenties to those in their mid forties. But there is a population that is also effected by this epidemic; the elderly.
Over the past several decades, physicians have increasingly prescribed seniors pain medications to address chronic pain from arthritis, cancer, neurological diseases and other illnesses that become more common in later life.
A recent study from Medicare recipients found that in 2011, 15 percent of seniors were prescribed an opioid when they were discharged from the hospital; three months later, 42 percent were still taking the pain medicine (Gold).
It's also said that opioids are effecting senior's health in other ways. Taking the drugs for an extended amount of time can deteriorate bone density, motor function, and brain function; this exacerbates the problems that the sometimes prescribed drug was intended to treat in the first place.
It's projected that the number of elderly that will become physically dependent on opiates will double between 2004-2020. The number of overdoses and opiate related deaths are on the rise, as well. Many who become physically dependent are often too ashamed to seek help, and a vicious cycle continues.
For those that do seek help, however, the progress is promising and can improve overall physical health as well as mental health.
Those from the baby boomer generation are at a higher risk for opiate dependency. They come from a time where "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" was a design for living, and treated anything and everything with street and pharmaceutical drugs. Trying to curb addiction rates, while also being cautious of serious health concerns and ailments has been a struggle within the healthcare community. Offering alternative treatments such as acupuncture and other preventative medicine, along with exercise is something that health providers are looking into more as the opioid epidemic rises.
There are healthier and less dangerous options to treat pain.
To find out more information on this issue and hear John Evard's story of dependency and recovery on NPR click here https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/20/502470255/opioids-can-derail-the-lives-of-older-people-too
Resources:
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-09-01/12-ways-opioid-addiction-and-treatment-differ-in-older-adults
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/20/502470255/opioids-can-derail-the-lives-of-older-people-too
Over the past several decades, physicians have increasingly prescribed seniors pain medications to address chronic pain from arthritis, cancer, neurological diseases and other illnesses that become more common in later life.
A recent study from Medicare recipients found that in 2011, 15 percent of seniors were prescribed an opioid when they were discharged from the hospital; three months later, 42 percent were still taking the pain medicine (Gold).
It's also said that opioids are effecting senior's health in other ways. Taking the drugs for an extended amount of time can deteriorate bone density, motor function, and brain function; this exacerbates the problems that the sometimes prescribed drug was intended to treat in the first place.
It's projected that the number of elderly that will become physically dependent on opiates will double between 2004-2020. The number of overdoses and opiate related deaths are on the rise, as well. Many who become physically dependent are often too ashamed to seek help, and a vicious cycle continues.
For those that do seek help, however, the progress is promising and can improve overall physical health as well as mental health.
Those from the baby boomer generation are at a higher risk for opiate dependency. They come from a time where "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" was a design for living, and treated anything and everything with street and pharmaceutical drugs. Trying to curb addiction rates, while also being cautious of serious health concerns and ailments has been a struggle within the healthcare community. Offering alternative treatments such as acupuncture and other preventative medicine, along with exercise is something that health providers are looking into more as the opioid epidemic rises.
There are healthier and less dangerous options to treat pain.
To find out more information on this issue and hear John Evard's story of dependency and recovery on NPR click here https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/20/502470255/opioids-can-derail-the-lives-of-older-people-too
Resources:
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-09-01/12-ways-opioid-addiction-and-treatment-differ-in-older-adults
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/20/502470255/opioids-can-derail-the-lives-of-older-people-too
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