“People age 65 and older make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 34 percent of all prescription medication use and 30 percent of all over-the-counter medication use.” -American Public Health Association
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. An overdose is when a person has taken too much of one drug, or too many combined drugs, for their body to handle. An overdose is often unintentional, and it can occur with drug use, alcohol use, or with mixing drugs and alcohol. Depressant drugs (including alcohol) are drugs that slow the central nervous system. These can be taken for calming, pain relief and other purposes, but in too high a dosage, these drugs can depress normal functions like heart rate and breathing to the point of death. Stimulant drugs in large doses can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and seizures. They can also cause psychotic episodes.
How does this relate to older adults? There is a common misconception that overdose and addiction are a young person’s problem. That is not true. With aches and pains of aging, older adults often turn to their doctors for help with pain management. What they are typically prescribed is a prescription drug to manage their pain, often an opioid.
Most commonly prescribed opioids include:
- Oxycodone
- Fentanyl
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
- Oxymorphone
- Hydrocodone
- Codeine
- Morphine
Although such drugs can be helpful for some pain management like when you are recovering from a surgery, they are highly addictive. Opioids trigger your brain to release feel good chemicals called endorphins. These can mask pain and create good feelings. Opioids also cause the brain, over time, to develop a tolerance to them so that the dosage needs to be increased in order to keep working.
This can lead to what Boston Medical researchers call “overlooked addiction”: Aging adults who have been prescribed a drug that they may no longer actually need but their body is craving so they continue taking it and in larger doses. Dr. Andrew Kolodny (Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing) explains that when an older person overdoses and appears to have died in their sleep, the family typically will call 9-1-1 and the emergency teams who arrive will rule it a death of natural causes, especially if the person had underlying medical conditions. “No one wants Grandma to have died of a drug overdose,” says Kolodny, so an autopsy or a toxicology report aren’t usually requested. Overdose death statistics are high, but in older adults they may actually be significantly underreported. Research shows that 39% of seniors (15.1 million) take 5 or more prescription drugs each day. Mix in a few alcoholic drinks or accidentally taking an extra pill and this can easily lead to an overdose or negative drug interaction.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, help is available. If you need help managing pain, there are alternatives to prescription drugs such as physical therapy, exercise, massage, and other holistic treatments and practices. And if you are currently taking an opioid(s) for pain management, talk to your doctor about the risks and ask for alternative options. Medication can be a useful tool for wellness when used safely and appropriately. Be well friends, as you continue to ask questions and seek alternative options for safe and effective care.
DISCLAIMER: This article contains information that is intended to help the readers be better informed regarding exercise and health care. It is presented as general advice on health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs. Before beginning any new exercise program it is recommended that you seek medical advice from your personal physician. This article is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor in any matters relating to his/her health.
