Substance Abuse and Addiction in the Elderly

by Alyssa Hill for addictiongroup.org

Many adults aged 65 and older misuse prescription and illicit drugs, but alcohol remains the most widely abused substance. Abuse of opioids, prescription medications, and marijuana is also common.

Thirty percent of the U.S. population consists of “baby boomers,” which is a generation of people born between 1946 and 1964. In 2011, the first wave of this generation turned 65 years old.

Over the years, baby boomers have changed the country’s views concerning alcohol and drug use. For example, substance use disorder (SUD) is common in this age group.

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