Seniors have a disproportionately high rate of suicide, largely due to social isolation and depression.
Increasing numbers of seniors misuse prescriptions and use alcohol and cannabis to cope with chronic pain.Life today for a person aged 65 years or older dramatically differs from life 50 years ago, with major advances in health and technology. Futurists like Ray Kurzweil predict continued advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and, which could lead to increases in life expectancy. Scientific advancements may allow people to live beyond 100 years.
Access to cannabis has added to potential substance options. Americans over 65 who used marijuana nearly tripled in a decade. Cannabis use for many older Americans is less about getting high and more about self-medicating arthritic joints, getting sleep, and soothing aching backs and necks. Of older adults who use cannabis, approximately 75 percent say they use it for medical purposes.
Fatal drug overdoses have soared among seniors. From 2002 to 2021, the rate of overdose deaths quadrupled to 12 per 100,000 from 3 per 100,000, Dr. Humphreys reported inMost substance use disorders among older people involve prescribed medications, not illegal drugs. Since most Medicare beneficiaries take multiple drugs, “It’s easy to get confused,” Dr. Humphreys said. “The more complicated the regimen, the easier to make mistakes. And then you have an overdose.
Many people are unaware older individuals are at increased risk for loneliness, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, STIs, and suicide. Without expert help, older individuals increasingly turn to alcohol, cannabis, or prescriptions for pain,. 2023 May 1;80:518–520. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.5159. PMID: 36988923; PMCID: PMC10061315.2021 Jul;36:2074–2084. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06504-8. Epub 2021 Jan 29. PMID: 33515191; PMCID: PMC8298645.