Benshoff, John J. & Laura K. Harrawood, Darwin Shane Koch. (Apr-May 2003) "Substance abuse and the elderly: unique issues and concerns." Journal of Rehabilitation. Journal article retrieved from Find Articles Health & Fitness database on 25 Oct 2005 athttp://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0825/is_2_69/ai
This article by John J. Benshoff, Laura K. Harrawood, and Darwin Shane Koch entitled "Substance abuse and the elderly: unique issues and concerns," attempts to understand why alcohol abuse amongst the elderly (defined as individuals over the age of 65 for the purposes of the article) has gone largely ignored in issues pertaining to rehabilitation and the field of geriatric medicine. The article also attempts to gain inkling upon the scope of the problem of substance abuse in the elderly population. The article admits while "various sources of data suggest that alcohol problems are ordinary events, but largely unrecognized in this population, and estimates of the prevalence of heavy drinking or alcohol abuse range from 2% to 20% for this population," a strikingly and unhelpfully wide range for individuals involved in the field of substance abuse treatmentand prevention. (Benshoff, Harrawood, Koch, 2003, p.1)
The article concludes that there is virtually no hard data exist to quantify drug use, abuse, and dependence patterns amongst the elderly. However, the sheer size of this population means that the size of potential problems for society and families can only grow, given the elderly's longer lifespans in the age of modern medicine. Also, the current generation of elderly has been more exposed to drugs and alcohol, at earlier times during the collective maturing process of the 'baby boomers.' This means that there may be a higher rate of long-term alcoholics and drug users, with more ingrained health problems that the health care system must deal with in the future.
Article Summary
Several reasons have been suggested for the lack of information and attention about alcohol abuse in the elderly. Drug abuse and dependence research tends to be driven by the federal agenda to limit crime, causing a focus on younger populations who deal as well as use drugs. The...
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