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October 1999
This week, the University of Cincinnati e-briefing peers into the future: experts predict
that drug and other addictions - almost always defined as part of America's "youth
culture" till now - will more commonly (and more accurately) be viewed as a problem
among the elderly in the new millennium.
Table of contents
1. Drugs and alcohol to be a senior challenge
A. Tomorrow's elderly have different attitudes about alcohol and
drugs
B. Addictions already a problem for Baby Boomers in the workforce
C. Addictions entrenched
D. Elderly more susceptible to drug interactions
E. Elderly more vulnerable to alcohol
2. Gambling: another addiction threat
A. Introduction
B. Two types among the elderly most likely to gamble
C. As gambling opportunities increase, fun and funds decrease
1. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TO BE A "SENIOR" CHALLENGE
A. TOMORROW'S ELDERLY HAVE DIFFERENT ATTITUDES
Frederick Blow of the University of Michigan's Department of Psychiatry and Alcohol
Research Center, is working with a federal agency to predict the services that will be
needed as Baby Boomers swell the ranks of senior citizens and, perhaps, likewise raise
the levels of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drug abuse among seniors citizens.
"Today's older population grew up during Prohibition so they have different attitudes and
patterns of alcohol and drug use. The formative drinking years for Baby Boomers
occurred during a period of alcohol acceptance. Boomers also were more likely to
experiment with illegal drugs." contact: 734-930-5106
B. ADDICTIONS ALREADY A PROBLEM IN THE WORKFORCE
Larry Anthony, coordinator of UC's Addiction Studies Program, says addictions are
already a problem for Boomers within the workforce, and they're likely to carry these
problems with them into retirement. (A 1997 survey by the National Household Survey
on Drug Abuse found 6.7 million full-time workers had used illegal drugs, and 11.2
million Americans reported heavy drinking.) Said Anthony: employers often do not have
proper training or programs to aid employees who fear the exposure of a drinking or
drug problem. If there's nowhere to turn, and employees fear losing their jobs (as is the
case for many in middle management), the addiction usually worsens. contact: 513-556-9196 (UC's Addiction Studies Program is the only such program in Ohio -- and one of few in the country -- to offer an undergraduate degree to train professionals in
understanding, preventing and treating addiction.)
C. ADDICTIONS ENTRENCHED
Rhonda Robinson, developer and administrator of UC's Responsive Employee
Assistance Can Help (REACH) Program, says addiction problems are usually so
entrenched that it may take many employer-employee confrontations, and even the
threat of being fired before an addicted individual will seek help. contact: 513-556-2506
D. ELDERLY MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DRUG INTERACTIONS
E. Don Nelson, UC professor of clinical pharmacology and associate director of the
Drug and Poison Information Center, says that the elderly, by virtue of aging, are more
susceptible to adverse drug reactions from prescription, over-the-counter, street drugs
and herbal preparations since their bodies are less able to metabolize and get rid of all
drugs. The aging population has been socialized to a wide spectrum of psychoactive drug
abuse, and increased use of prescription drugs and herbal preparations are strong
patterns (though which significant drug patterns will prevail remains to be seen). Data
from interviews with 2000 intravenous addicts and their sexual partners indicates that
people take their drug-using practices with them as they age, but seem to use expensive
drugs less often. contact: 513-558-9178
E. THE ELDERLY MORE VULNERABLE TO ALCOHOL
Paula Shear, assistant professor of psychology: "There is actually fairly compelling
evidence that the brains of older persons are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol
than are the brains of younger persons. Older alcoholics (please note that these studies
did not include social drinkers) show disproportionate cerebral atrophy in brain-imaging
studies, ever after controlling for duration of illness. In other words, if a young person
drinks for 10 years and an older person drinks for 10 years also, the latter will have more
severe impairment." contact: 513-556-5577
2. GAMBLING: ANOTHER ADDICTION THREAT
A. INTRODUCTION
The lure of legalized gambling is another addiction threat to the elderly. In 1997, the
casinos in Atlantic City earned $3.8 billion 65 percent of that money came from
patrons over the age of 55. The elderly are especially vulnerable if a gambling addiction
develops because retirement savings can be gambled away in a short amount of time;
however, they are without the long-term ability to regain a lost nest egg.
B. TWO TYPES MOST LIKELY TO GAMBLE
Ron Karpin, senior outreach program coordinator, The New Jersey Council on
Compulsive Gambling, developed the first senior outreach program in the country. He
describes two types of gamblers: the action gambler and the escape gambler. Seniors
may turn to gambling to escape depression over physical illness, death of a spouse, or
boredom after retirement. "What began as a recreational or social activity turns into a
coping mechanism that becomes addictive." contact: 609-3299, x. 14
C. AS GAMBLING OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE, FUN AND FUNDS DECREASE
Larry Anthony, coordinator of UC's Addiction Studies Program: "Gambling has become
a tremendously fun-loving recreational activity for the elderly." He added, however, that
studies show that as casinos and gambling opportunities increase, so does the number of
gamblers who are no longer "having fun" but instead face serious financial problems.
Even seniors who may have mobility limitations have increasing access to gaming via the
Internet. Games of risk and chance are only a credit card number away. contact: 513-556-9196
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