Opioid Abuse Up Among Older Adults

Source: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), news release, July 26, 2017 “While *opioid abuse has fallen among younger Americans, the same cannot be said for older adults, a new government report shows. Rates of opioid abuse among young adults — aged 18 to 25 — decreased from 11.5 percent in 2002 to 8 percent in 2014. But in adults 50 years and older, opioid abuse doubled, from 1 percent to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).” “These findings highlight the need for prevention programs for all ages, as well as to establish improved evidence-based treatment, screening and appropriate referral services,” Dr. Kimberly Johnson, director for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, said in a SAMHSA news release. *Opioid abuse includes either the use of heroin or illegal use of prescription opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicoprofen).
Source: BHIC - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: General Opioid Abuse and Addiction Public Health Senior Source Type: blogs