Drug Abuse Admissions Up Among People Over 50

Denis Doyle/Getty Images, file

America's drug abusers are going gray.

The proportion of people admitted to treatment for drug abuse who are aged 50 or over nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008, a new government study says.

Alcohol is still the leading cause of admissions in this age group, but sharp increases were noted in those needing treatment for heroin, cocaine and marijuana, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports Wednesday.

"These findings show the changing scope of substance abuse problems in America," agency administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a statement. "The graying of drug users in America is an issue for any programs and communities providing health or social services for seniors."

While some people 50 and over were taking up drugs for the first time — notably cocaine users — the study found that three-quarters of older Americans admitted for treatment had started using drugs before age 25.

According to the report, the share of people treated for substance abuse who were 50 and over:

— More than doubled, from 7.2 percent to 16.0 percent, for heroin.

— For cocaine abuse, nearly quadrupled from 2.9 percent to 11.4 percent. More than a quarter of these had begun use of the drug within the last five years.

— Rose from 0.7 percent to 3.5 percent for prescription drug abuse.

— For marijuana abuse increased from 0.6 percent to 2.9 percent

The agency said that during the same period admissions primarily related to alcohol abuse decreased from 84.6 percent in 1992 to 59.9 percent in 2008.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

[drugaddiction]

Are you a drug addict? Share your story with me!
http://drugaddiction.co

[guest173]

anyone getting help and treatment to stop doing drugs is taking a courageous step and I hope they keep at it and find peace and joy. when I went in at one point for help, I was disappointed that the attitude from the military doctors was "just stop doing it." don't get discouraged if you have a bad doctor, group counseling can help and maybe get some books from the library about some particular drugs and educated yourself about the damage you could be doing if you need more encouragement, knowledge is power and learning why illegal drugs are so harmful for your health can be good motivation to help your body get healthy and realize why those things won't help you in the long run. kudos to anyone seeking help for their problem

[guest173]

I know of a grandmother who is using her kids and grandkids as customers for her marijuana habit, she has already been convicted but is still doing it, I have reported her to the police but she is still doing her thing. I guess white old ladies are low on the priority list. there are more people like Billy Mays doing drugs and having a job. they die young and often cough though, so it isn't as wonderful as these drug advocates try to make being high and legalizing seem. there is more to life than being drunk and stoned if you look for it

[LIBERALS-lie]

that explains why Obama was elected...

[LIBERALS-lie]

by cbsdeletesmyaccounts1 June 17, 2010 12:54 AM EDT
he wasn't elected...he was appointed...i guess you have been getting hi too long,or possibly not long enough,or maybe your just 1 card short of a full deck,in any event you have just been educated.
________________________________________________________________________
Why the harsh reply ?

Elected/appointed-either way Obama is in the white house and messing up our country.

[dragon8me]

Wow, all those "dope heads" living long and productive lives. Must not be as bad as the lying government has been telling us. Go figure.

[dragon8me]

People do not check themselves into treatment for weed. The ones who go in for cannabis is because it's a choice of that or jail. There's a big difference. And smoking a little weed is NOT abuse.

[cac1958]

Ah geez, here we go again!! Of course drug use has increased for the over 50 group...they are aging. It would be refreshing to see articles on solutions for health care, immigration, etc instead of already known facts. CBS open a website for solutions to what problems plague our nation and let the people bring forth solutions. The best ones win. Help us to help you create a more socially current, debt free, health care for all, economically increasing, decreasing pollution greenier nation. Deadbeat articiles and comments are getting us nowhere!

[cjdoy]

Just another ploy in the 75 year run on misinformation the government feeds the "sheep". Wake up people!! Stop the 2 trillion dollar,40 yr., waste of our money on the "drug war"

[maureenrita]

There is a drug epidemic in this country and it is a lot more then just illegal drugs. The baby boomers are getting older and we are not speaking of drugs left over from the sixties. As the boomers age they visit their Dr.?s more often aches, pains, depression and the Dr.?s sit down and write them a prescription for what ever they need, mental, physical, what ever. The Dr. will give them something that they will take for awhile hoping the condition goes away or gets better and before you know it you are hooked on what ever,valium, vicodin, xanax, (opioids, benzodiazipines). Check it out do the research you will see there are more people in this day and age addicted to these kind of drugs then anything else. Most Dr.?s do not even make people aware when the Dr.?s prescribe these drugs exactly how addictive they are. This problem is in epidemic propotion and ?NO ONE? is addressing this. But it is about ready to bite us in the rear.!!!!!

[retiredgustav]

That includes Saint Rush Limbaugh!

[gig76]

Not everyone over 50 years of age use drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco or any other illicit drug. Baby boomers who have been abusing drugs since their teens and are still living won't live much longer. Their bodies are old internally. Secondly, they do others things that make their bodies unhealthy, therefore, drug use, alcohol abuse, and other unhealthy decisions will cut them a short life. Again, there are many who don't use drugs after the age of 50. They choose not to, don't like to, just don't want to, or can't afford the costs.