Verified Document

Prescription Drug Abuse Please Describe Research Paper

Taking prescription drugs with alcohol or drugs that are contraindicated with their medications is another. Drugs with psychoactive properties may be more prescribed amongst the elderly, because it is assumed they are less likely to abuse them: "Elderly individuals are 2-3 times more likely than younger individuals to be prescribed psychoactive drugs, most notably benzodiazepines [sedatives]…benzodiazepines make up 17% to 23% of drugs prescribed for older adults" (Benshoff 2003, p.1). Both early and late-onset drug abusers are manifest in the elderly population: late abusers may be individuals who always engaged in moderate consumption, but because of chronic pain, social isolation, and depression have begun to use more painkillers or other medications than are medically necessary to cope with their illnesses. Others may have addictive tendencies and abused alcohol and hard drugs, but have shifted their addiction to more socially acceptable prescription drugs.

The elderly, because it is often assumed that they need drugs to function may 'go under the radar' in terms of drug abuse. Or it may be assumed that because someone is old, he or she is cannot change...

However, regardless of an individual's age, that person is still someone's mother, grandmother, father or grandfather. Every patient deserves dignity and care. Moreover, as individuals are living longer, age 65 is not 'elderly.' Living hostage to drug abuse is not necessary, provided abusers receive appropriate medical and psychological treatment.
References

Benshoff, John J. Laura K. Harrawood, Darwin Shane Koch. (2003, April-June). Substance

abuse and the elderly: unique issues and concerns. Journal of Rehabilitation.

Retrieved March 3, 2010 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0825/is_2_69/ai_102024782/pg_10/?tag=content;col1

Jorgensen, T., S .Johansson, a. Kennerfalk, M.A. Wallander, & K. Svardsudd. (2001).

Prescription drug use, diagnoses, and healthcare utilization among the elderly.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 35 (9): 1004-1009.

Trends in prescription drug abuse. (2010). National Institute of Drug Abuse. (NIDA). Retrieved

March 3, 2010 at http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/prescription/prescription5.html

Sources used in this document:
References

Benshoff, John J. Laura K. Harrawood, Darwin Shane Koch. (2003, April-June). Substance

abuse and the elderly: unique issues and concerns. Journal of Rehabilitation.

Retrieved March 3, 2010 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0825/is_2_69/ai_102024782/pg_10/?tag=content;col1

Jorgensen, T., S .Johansson, a. Kennerfalk, M.A. Wallander, & K. Svardsudd. (2001).
March 3, 2010 at http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/prescription/prescription5.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Drug Abuse Drug and Substance Abuse Is
Words: 2124 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Drug Abuse Drug and substance abuse is one of the most serious dilemmas in the world today. One aspect of the issue is the growing number of teenage drug users and the increasing incidents of prescription drug abuse. According to the statistics of the National Institute on Drug Abuse prescription drugs misuse is far greater than the abuse of narcotics. Among teenagers alone, accepted cases of drug use increased from 27

Drug Use and Abuse Drug Abuse Caetano
Words: 2500 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Drug Use and Abuse Drug abuse Caetano (1997, 58) in his studies describe drug abuse as the poor pattern of substance or drug consumption that results to harm on one's health and when you think about the word drugs, what comes to mind? It's in our human nature to instantly think about someone using crack or codeine. So therefore; we just stereo-typed someone we knew nothing about, it's what makes us humans.

Drugs According to the FBI, Lsd Can
Words: 612 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Drugs According to the FBI, LSD can be classified as a club drug. However, club drugs refer to a broad category of drugs that are used primarily by club goers to enhance their perceptual and cognitive experience. The category includes MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine (vitamin K), and Rohypnol (roofies, or the date rape drug). LSD is a powerful hallucinogenic, which lasts a long time. Most other club drugs do not last as long

Substance Abuse and Cognitive Therapy
Words: 1740 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Cross-cultural evidence shows that drinking abuse will be low in any group in which drinking "customs, values and sanctions are clear, agreed upon by all, consistent with other customs of the group and characterized by prescriptions for moderate drinking and proscriptions against immoderate drinking" (1995). Prohibition in America has obviously proven unsuccessful as it has in other locations as well, the approach that is taken today is a prohibitionist

Substance Abuse Amongst the Elderly
Words: 629 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Q4. Participants at treatment facilities might be disproportionately affluent and white, given that historically, individuals of color suffering from addictions have more often been relegated to prisons, rather than received support and assistance. Public as well as private treatment facilities may need to be compared, to ensure a more representative sampling. Part B: Article: Benshoff, John J., Laura K. Harrawood, & Darwin Shane Koch. (2003, April-June). Substance abuse and the elderly: unique issues and

Elder Abuse Phenomenon Correlating Relationship
Words: 15855 Length: 58 Document Type: Term Paper

126). Although there are an increasing number of elderly in the United States today with many more expected in the future, the study of elder abuse is of fairly recent origin. During the last three decades of the 20th century, following the "discovery" of child abuse and domestic violence, scholars and professionals started taking an active interest in the subject of elder abuse. This increased attention from the academic

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now