Substance Abuse: Realities and Hope

Chemical dependency affects all segments of our population, with devastating effects on families, personal health, financial stability, and community crime and violence. For many older adults, chemical dependency could mean a 10 to 15 years decrease in life span and significantly lowered quality of life during their later years. Participants in this module will be given an overview of how substance abuse impacts people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the main focus on the impact of chemical dependency on older adults. Participants will also gain insight into the impact of the disease on the person's ability to successfully carry out activities of daily living; engage in satisfying interpersonal relationships; health and sense of well-being; and the reluctance to seek and/or accept treatment. We also note that some older people are using street drugs and some have recognized the financial value of their prescription drugs and have begun to sell them. We will examine the changing face of substance abuse among older people with an expanded focus on drug use, abuse and sale. We will look at traditional models of intervention and treatment, as well as have an opportunity to learn about "evidence-based" models of intervention and treatment that have proven successful.