Addiction is a condition that do not distinguish factors such as age or gender. It can happen to anyone. It is usually assumed that youngsters are more in number when it comes to any type of addiction. That is a general understanding based on facts like the unique needs and the environmental factors of youth today. Addiction in middle-age people is also a well-known issue in societies. It is often due to stress springing out of work or family responsivities. But what do not surface into people’s mind in general is the existence of addiction problems in an elderly person or a senior citizen. Addiction among people 60+ age group is often underestimated and under-diagnosed, which end up in deprivation of the help they need. According to a psychiatrist in Mumbai, alcohol and prescription drug abuse affects up to 17% of adults over the age of 60.  According to a Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mumbai, substance abuse or drug addiction among senior citizens can be categorized into two types: 

1. The type who has been using substances for several years and have reached the age of 65. They are also known as the “hardy survivor”. This category of people could be the ones who started using substances such as prescription medicines for health reasons or could be alcohol and drug users from when they are young.
2. The type who develops addiction issues later in their lives. They can be also called the “late onset” group. This category of people are usually the ones that get dependent on certain drugs at a later age. The reasons could be purely health related. The pain killers for certain old age-related ailments could end up being the substance that they get addicted to.

Drug and alcohol abuse is particularly dangerous for elderly people because at this age, they become more susceptible to the deteriorating impacts of the substances. Once the person reaches the age of 60, the metabolism rate is decreased while there is an increased rate in brain sensitivity, which makes it extremely dangerous for the senior citizens to use alcohol or drugs.

Causes of Addiction in Senior Citizens.

There is no one factor that can be blamed as the cause for addiction in elderly people because there are several things contributing to this phenomenon. Factors like physical health issues can make a person dependent on certain medicines which has the potential of turning into a full-scale addiction. Experiences or events in life that are stressful or emotionally draining is a major cause of substance-abuse. Life after 50 years of age slows down in every aspect (family life, work, social circle etc.) comparatively. Let us look into some common causes for drug or alcohol addiction in senior citizens.

1. Health issues: As the person grow older, many health issues accompany. We often come across older people with problems like joint pain, headaches, weak and sensitive stomach etc. These factors all lead to the person using medicines some prescribed and some could be OTC. And these drugs become a part of their life almost like part of their diet.
2. Retirement: Retirement can be a huge experience of change for a person, especially someone who has worked most of his or her life and is a workaholic type of person. This sudden and big change where they do not have to do anything could come as a surprise to them and some of them may not accept this change positively. Failing to understand and accept such new change in life can lead some people to things like alcohol.
3. Sadness or stress due to death of spouse, child or any family member: Sadness or a heartbreak has always been a common factor that led people to develop unhealthy habits such as drinking too much or taking drugs. The false belief that these substances help numb the pain only make it more difficult for people to abstain from it while they are going through a difficult emotional state.
4. Loss of income: People who have been an earner for all their lives can face some difficulty in adjusting to a life where they do not get a monthly income. This could lead to depression resulting in alcoholism.
5. Loss of purpose: Similarly, losing the sense of purpose or not knowing what to do anymore every day after retirement can be another reason that make a person unhappy with themselves as they are not used to lack of responsibilities or duties in life, which then leads to some form of addiction.
6. Mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, dementia etc: All of these conditions may require medications as part of the treatment process and some people can get easily dependent on it for survival. Anxiety patients are known to sometimes opt for alcohol to calm their nerves, which can be a starting point of a bigger addiction problem.
7. Sleep problems: People who has difficulty sleeping due to reasons like health problems or personal stress factors may turn to sleeping medicines habitually, turning them into substance abuse people eventually.
8. Conflict in the family: Problems in the family, be it, children related or spousal related is usually a common factor among old age people for turning into alcohol. The constant worry about children and their future is a common reason of stress for senior citizens. This type of worry can bring about daily stress. Conflict in family can be of any type and between any two or more members of the family. But if it is not resolved amicably or in a healthy manner, then the elderly people tend to be affected particularly. They could develop conditions like depression or alcoholism.

Symptoms of Addiction in elderly people.

It may not be easy to detect addiction problems in this particular age group because there will be so many factors mainly like health issues that make the use of several medicines by elderly people seem normal to the rest of us. There is a presumption that due to their old age, deteriorating health, vision or body aches etc, this category of people needs to take many prescription drugs. It could be true in some cases while in some cases, it could be due to dependency on the drugs. Here are some of the symptoms which could help us understand the presence of addictive behavior among the members of 60 years and above.

1. Change in sleep patterns.
2. Memory issues.
3. Irritability.
4. Depression.
5. Unexplained chronic pain.
6. Unexplained bruises in the body.
7. Loss of appetite.
8. Loss of interest in usual activities.
9. Isolation from family and friends. 

Conclusion:

Once any of these symptoms are detected, it is advisable to consult a psychiatrist to be absolutely certain and then take the right measure to treat the condition. There are several centres in and around Mumbai that provide care and treatment to senior citizens that battling with addiction among many other physical health issues related to the age. The right type of program for such cases should be the type that comprises of overall health care plan. It should have medical treatment, psychiatric treatment, counselling and therapy for managing a healthy lifestyle even after the treatment is completed.