If we had to list the words that come to mind when we think about what it means to be an older adult, it is most likely that some will come up such as tenderness, rest, experience, wisdom or dependence; but definitely not the word “problems.” We tend to believe that the resolution of problems and interpersonal conflicts is something that is the exclusive responsibility of adults, or ultimately of young people, while we assume that third age is a stage linked rather to joy and tranquility. However, reality (and scientific research) shows that this idyllic vision of old age is not entirely true. Older adults suffer from problems that are also present in other age periods – that is, they suffer from losses, heartbreak, social and economic factors, etc. – and from others that are more common in old age. Some of the latter even constitute risk factors for falling into addiction.
And it is that addictions in the elderly tend to be disorders that remain hidden , in silence, in the private sphere. There are many campaigns for the prevention of substance use disorders in adolescents and young people, but not for older adults. This is understandable, since some people carry problematic consumption from their youth to old age that, in the medium and long term, has serious effects on their health. However, even without precedent an older adult can develop an addiction.
It is important to talk about this problem since addictions can worsen the deteriorations that already occur at this stage, such as memory, cardiac function, coordination, reaction time or judgment. For this reason, in this article we will present information about the most common addictions in the elderly.
Addictions involve the repeated and sustained use over time of certain psychoactive substances or behaviors – such as gambling, sex, shopping, etc. – which, although they cause an extremely pleasurable effect in the short term thanks to the activation of our brain’s reward system, in the long term it could generate dependence on said substance or behavior.
Broadly speaking, this is because a synaptic imprint remains about the pleasure generated by the action of consuming , which determines a tendency to repeat that behavior. In the immediate term, substance consumption can also have negative effects such as intoxication. Prolonged consumption over time negatively affects the different organs and systems of the body; It also affects people cognitively and emotionally, taking away their ability to control what or how much they consume and, therefore, to be in charge of their own functioning in the interpersonal, family, academic, work, among other vital areas.
Scientific research suggests that, with advancing age, organic but also sociocultural changes occur that could make older people more vulnerable to drug abuse. According to an article published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), not enough is known about the effects of addictions on the aging brain, but it is known that older adults tend to metabolize substances more slowly and that Your brain is usually more sensitive to consumption.
Risk factors for suffering from addiction in the elderly
On the other hand, as we mentioned, there are certain risk factors that are common among all age groups for falling into addiction. Some are family history, traumatic experiences, suffering from another mental disorder, social pressures, and even genetic predisposition. All of these are risk factors for suffering from addiction during old age.
However, there are two very marked risk factors in this period. One of them is the grief of a loved one, a risk factor present during all stages of life, but which takes on greater meaning in old age because older adults are much more likely to experience the loss of their friends. from all their lives, from relatives such as cousins or siblings, or from their partners. On the other hand, social isolation, physical immobility, loneliness and suffering from a chronic disease are also a risk factor, the frequency of which is higher among older adults compared to other age groups.
Taking into account the particularities of this stage, below we will point out the most frequent addictions among elderly people.
1. Prescription medications
As we get older, we can expect people to take more prescription medications for chronic health problems. This makes access to medications easier for this age group compared to younger adults. The tendency of older adults to suffer from chronic pathologies that can be very painful It also increases the probability of misusing substances to relieve pain, even extrapolating their use from the physical to the emotional level. Addiction based on the consumption of inappropriate analgesic medications (that is, those not prescribed by a doctor and that are very difficult to abandon without experiencing intense discomfort) is one of the most common addictions among older adults.
2. Marijuana
According to data provided by NIDA, cannabis use in a period of one year among adults over 65 years of age increased markedly in 2016 compared to 2006, increasing by 2.5%. At any age, marijuana use carries a health risk , since it has the potential to impair judgment, is related to depression, memory impairment, and other variables. It is also true that the medicinal effects that cannabis could have to treat certain pathologies have been demonstrated.
However, given the prevalence of pathologies with intense pain in old age, some older adults could consume cannabis outside the scope of medical treatment and in non-recommended doses, increasing the chances of developing an addiction. Of course, NIDA warns that regardless of the dose and reason for consumption, regular use of marijuana carries the risks outlined above.
Alcohol is the drug most consumed by older adults, and this should not surprise us, since it is a substance whose consumption is normalized in all Western societies. The majority of admissions to health centers among elderly people are due to alcohol use disorders This drug could increase the risk of people in this population suffering from diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, bone problems, and mood disorders.
4. Nicotine
As for nicotine, it increases the risk of suffering from heart disease and cancer, pathologies to which, per se, older adults are already exposed to a greater extent than young adults. An encouraging fact that the research provides is that, although smokers over 65 years of age have great risks of their health deteriorating, If you stop smoking you could significantly reduce your risk, increasing your life expectancy even up to three years.
5. Behavioral addictions
Ultimately, older adults are also vulnerable to behavioral addictions, especially pathological gambling and cybersex. Regarding the latter, a team of Spanish researchers found that around 20% of older male adults who participated in a study were at risk of suffering from an addiction to using the Internet for sexual purposes , a very high number compared to the 8.6% that other research found regarding young boys. This would mean that 1 in 5 men between 60 and 70 years old would be at risk of suffering from this behavioral addiction, capable of negatively affecting a person’s life, just as any other substance use disorder does.
