The proportion of people admitted for drug abuse treatment over 50 nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008. While alcohol still is the leading cause of admissions in this age group, sharp increases were noted in those needing treatment for heroin, cocaine and marijuana, according to the study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can read more in the The DASIS Report: Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment. You can read more Arizona specific stuff in our Annual Report on Substance Abuse Treatment Programs which is posted along with all of our other Reports Required by State Statute.
America’s Drug Abusers Going Gray
About the Author: Will Humble
Will Humble, M.P.H.
Director
Arizona Department of Health Services
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Hey!~ Great info and we appreciate the heck out of you from the porch – but you are supposed to be on vacation!
Thanks so much!
This statistic is shocking.
“The proportion of people admitted for drug abuse treatment over 50 nearly doubled between 1992 and 2008”
Prescription medications can be misused and abused as these numbers prove. The dangerous thinking comes from the idea that prescription medications are safer because they come from a doctor.
Doctors need to educate patience on the dangers of misusing prescriptions.