Substance Abuse Among Aging Adults - Research Paper Example

 Substance abuse among aging adults (Literature Review) INTRODUCTION Aging is a natural phenomenon of life. A human being’s modes and habits change with the progress of each stage in his life. As a person grows old he develops certain habits that may or may not be beneficial for him/her. Substance abuse is the term coined to describe the misuse of substances like alcohol and drugs. Though, usually this, and similar misuses are associated with youngsters only recent studies have shown alarming trends of substance abuse in adults who have passed the middle tier of their life. Since they do not have much to do as compared to their pre-occupied life in its earlier days they tend to get indulged into such condemnable activities. The study of a few literary pieces on this important topic is the aim of our study in this report. Five reports have been chosen in this regard. Their names are initially stated as follows: 1. Substance use disorder among older adults in the United States in 2020 2. Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse, Among Older Adults: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. 3. The Potential Impact of the Baby-Boom Generation on Substance Abuse among Elderly Persons 4. Substance misuse among older adults: a neglected but treatable problem Society For The Study Of Addiction. 5. Substance abuse treatment initiation among older adults in the GET SMART program: effects of depression and cognitive status LITERATURE REVIEW 1ST PAPER: Substance use disorder among older adults in the United States in 2020 INTRODUCTION The current study, conducted by personnel from ‘US Department of Health and Human Services’ and ‘Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’ evaluates the grave nature of rising number of aging adults suffering from SUD (Substance Use Disorder). METHODS National Survey of Drug use and Mental Health’s data for the year 2000-2006 was used to calculate the current SUD suffering adults. The results were then logistically regressed to project the expected number of adults suffering from SUD in the year 2020. The data mentioned above was related to adults in the ‘Baby Boomers Age’. This referred to all individuals that were 46 years or older in the years whose data was used. This it is clearly stated that the quantitative analysis statistical methodology of Logistic Regression was used to conduct calculations on data. REVIEW OF LITERATURE The paper clearly narrated the grave nature of the ailment that was called ‘Substance Use Disorder’. It used evidence to prove that since aging adults offer suffer with emotional and medical distresses such as social isolation, loneliness, chronic pain depression anxiety etc it is essential that their number be calculated and projected so as to plan any further strategies for them. The study is validly targeted to emphasize upon the rise in number of aging adults suffering from SUD. It is done because physicians often disregard symptoms of SUD and think of it as normal stress. IMPLICATIONS OR UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS The quantitative research is targeted at finding projected number of aging adults suffering from SUD. This is done so as to prove that steps should be taken to rehabilitate them and their problem should be taken just as seriously as that of youngsters suffering from SUD. 2ND PAPER: Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse, Among Older Adults: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. INTRODUCTION The paper addresses issues related to substance abuse in elderly population. The main focus of the paper comprises of three parts. (a) The discussion of substance misuses with their effects and vulnerabilities, (b) Discussion of advanced prevention methods and techniques in this regard, and (c) Emphasis on training health staff on advanced lines in order to optimize their current effectiveness. REVIEW OF LITERATURE The substance abuse in old age population is of different category than youth. They are more abusive towards using the prescribed or over the counter medicines and drugs. Due to increased life expectancy the population of old age people has increased over the past years. This resulted in a dire need of addressing the drug misuse problem in this group. The main problem is to make a correct diagnosis, which is proved to very difficult in case of older people due to the co-existence of multiple problems. Most of the existing methods of diagnosis are not valid for such cases. METHODS The methods suggested to prevent, avoid and handle this problem includes, verbal cognitive individual counseling through intervention of suitably selected family members of addicts, and group discussions. The rationale and reasoning based interventions are likely to reduce the misuse problem in adults. The emotional help acquired by engaging the family members may appear vital but selection of most appropriate and suitable individuals is highly necessary. These people should be either of same age group or from just one tier down. The number of intervening family members should ideally be not more than two in order to avoid confusions and extra ordinary emotional responses. The ego content of the afflicted adult must not get hurt in the procedure. The discussion groups are mainly helpful in breaking the loneliness and let elderly people take out all their anguish before others. The paper suggests that the new approaches be exploited for counselors’ training and more research to be done to optimize the results. CONCLUSION As the diagnosis of drug or substance abuse in elderly population is comparatively difficult, there is an extreme need to update conventional practices in this regard. To minimize the problem the afflicted people may be treated with logical verbal interventions, family interventions and group discussions. The counselors are needed to be trained accordingly in order to handle all the supplementary aspects of the problem in a comprehensive manner. 3RD PAPER: The Potential Impact of the Baby-Boom Generation on Substance Abuse among Elderly Persons INTRODUCTION This paper critically targets the currently targeted remedies for Substance Abuse disorder among aging adults. It highlights that the current diagnostic criteria are most likely to underestimate the existence of Substance Abuse Disorder among aging adults. METHODS The report constitutes of a qualitative approach. Being theoretical in nature the report uses examples from different researches to highlight the fact that the current figures used to calculate the number of aging adults suffering from Substance Use Disorder cannot be accurate. It challenges the earlier results by emphasizing that those results were based upon researches mainly conducted upon younger and middle aged population factions. This was because SUD (Substance Use Disorder) among aging elders is a relatively new problem. In the earlier times aging individuals did not suffer from the said problem. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Substance Abuse Disorder Among aging individuals is treated in very small proportions. The treatment that is done has been found to be less effective in aging individuals suffering from cognitive impairment. It has also been ascertained that aging individuals that have the problem of dementia need to be treated for Substance Use Disorder with special treatment strategies. IMPLICATIONS OR UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS The report proposes that the rising levels of Substance Use Disorder and the issues related to its treatments are issues that should not be undermined. It proposes that the need arises for a specific and accurate approach that would provide estimates of substance abuse and its dependence among aging adults. It also emphasizes that the most current data be obtained from The National Survey on Drug Abuse and the realistic estimated number of aging individuals suffering from SUD be found out. 4TH PAPER: Substance misuse among older adults: a neglected but treatable problem Society for the Study of Addiction. INTRODUCTION The paper highlights that the problems of Substance Abuse have no age limitations. They can occur with individuals in any age group. However evidence suggests that individuals beyond 65 years of age have statistically been reported to be using both prescribed and over the counter drugs at a very high rate than individuals in any other period of their lives. METHODS The method embedded in the writing of this report is that comparative analysis is used. This analysis compares current prevalent reports with the earlier established results. It suggests how the accuracy of these reports can be enhanced. It comparatively assesses that the effectiveness of rehabilitation and treatment in youngsters and in aging adults. The evidences compared suggest that Aging individuals have a more serious attitude towards treatments and are thus more benefitted by them than young SUD sufferers. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Substance Abuse has clear and profound effects on the health and wellness of aging individuals. At old age even the slightest of illness have intensified effects. This is because the immunity of the human body deteriorates on the whole. Substance Abuse has been noted to have possessed highly adverse effects on the functionality of almost all the organisms of an aging individual. Studies supported suggest that from the year 2001 to 2020 the number of aging adults suffering from Substance Use Disorder would increase by 300%. IMPLICATIONS OR UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS Misuse of Alcohol is one of the major reasons behind several physical and mental problems among individuals. 5TH PAPER: Substance abuse treatment initiation among older adults in the GET SMART program: effects of depression and cognitive status INTRODUCTION The Get Smart Program is an attempt to treat aging individuals suffering from Substance Abuse Disorder. The behavioral Health Service Use Model is the basis of an investigation that examines the prediction of substance abuse treatment initiation and demonstrates how individual patient characteristics affect it. METHODS Aging adult substance abuse program was conducted. The data obtained from it was used to evaluate the effects of alcohol abuse problems, anxiety, depression, demographic factors and cognitive status on the initiation of treatment of aging adults for substance abuse. This process involved the use of statistical regression analysis along with other processes.The study presents data obtained from clinical records in an older adult substance abuse program, to examine how demographic factors, alcohol problems, depression, and cognitive status may be associated with treatment initiation. The analytical analysis approach utilized data of aging individuals belonging to low socio-economic status. These individuals were medical inpatients and were also veterans. REVIEW OF LITERATURE The method used in this paper is the behavioral model of health service use. It is a theoretical framework that uses patient characteristics. These patient characteristics are used so as to witness their influence of willingness on the initiation of treatment abuse program. This method proposes that treatment seeking behavior can be predicted by variables belonging to three categories. These categories include demographics, problem severity, perception of the need for help, social support, resources and contact with the treatment staff etc. IMPLICATIONS OR UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS The analysis presented was preliminary in nature and research can further on be carried out using this research as a foundation. REFERENCES: Han, B. Gfroerer, J. C., Colliver, J. D., Penn M. A. (2009). Substance use disorder among older adults in the United States in 2020. The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction . 104, Retrieved from http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/AbstinenceHR/SubstanceUseDisordersIn2020-09.pdf Briggs, W. P., Magnus V. A., Lassiter P., Patterson A., Smith L. (2011). Substance Use, Misuse and Abuse, Among Older Adults: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 33(2).Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=d4a872de-9cc5-46bf-b269-909c232452d2%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl Patterson T. L., Jeste D. V. (1999). The Potential Impact of the Baby-Boom Generation on Substance Abuse Among Elderly Person. Psychiatr Serv. 50. Retrieved from http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/50/9/1184. Society for the Study of Addiction. (2008). Substance misuse among older adults: a neglected but treatable problem. The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Society for the Study of Addiction Addiction, 103, Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=ca4f5737-921e-4579-8be4-260b0d35e0dc%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl Satre, D. D., Knight B. G., Dickson-Fuhrmann E., Jarvik l. F. (2004). Substance abuse treatment initiation among older adults in the GET SMART program: effects of depression and cognitive status. Aging & Mental Health, July 2004. 8(4). Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=f5a96263-5367-46d3-b2e3-cb1d44838e98%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl Read More