advertisement

Drug Abuse In Older Adults / Documentary Video

Public domain video from the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training (MCTFT). When we think of drug abuse, the first thing that comes to mind is often teens. That's not always the case. Drug abuse affects people of all ages, and America's baby boomer population is no exception. As drug use declines among some younger populations, it's increasing among older adults. The boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and are now in their 40s, 50s, and 60s and make up our country's largest generation. Many came of age in the 1960s, an era defined by sex, drugs and rock and roll. Some carried their bad habits into adulthood, but an increasing number of people are becoming drug users as a way of dealing with feelings of grief, financial difficulties, loneliness, medical problems, or other issues. Many younger boomers end up caring both for parents and children at the same time, making them part of the so-called "sandwich generation". Drug use in this group impacts the very people who they care for and who love them. Drug Abuse & the Boomer Generation is an hour-long broadcast focusing on a generation that is not usually the target of anti-drug efforts. Well see how to identify the signs of abuse and explain how to prevent, treat, and manage drug use among this generation. Key Points: Understand the problem of substance abuse among older Americans Learn which drugs baby boomers abuse most often Hear why treatment is different for older adults Find out how to identify substance abuse Know how and where to seek help if an adult is abusing drugs Learn how families and communities can help prevent drug abuse among baby boomers