Baby Boomers at Risk – Drugs & Alcohol

Baby boomers are at risk of drugs and alcohol abuse as they move into old age and becoming a concern for authorities in Canada and other Western nations.

Children born post WW2, between 1946-7 and 1966 are loosely referred to as “baby boomers”, being babies born in the the post war boom, of increased opportunity, and economic prosperity.

In Canada, according to CCSA statistics, seniors are now one of the fastest growing groups in the Canadian population.

In the year 2000, it was estimated that one in eight (3.8 million) Canadians were aged 65 or older.  In 2000, around 60% of seniors were women – and 70% of those older than 85 were women, women statistically tend to live longer than men.

It is predicted that by 2021 – one in five, or around 20% of the Canadian population will be senior citizens, many tagged as being of the baby boomer generation.

Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in the seniors group, followed by prescription drug abuse.

Fears are being expressed that those of the baby boomer generation are also more likely to return to the illicit drugs of their youth, when faced with life problems, bereavement and social isolation.

The normal problems that come with old age such as memory loss, depression and sleep problems can be intensified when old people decide to use alcohol or drugs.

Authorities are concerned that for many old people, their issues with drug abuse will remain untreated and unnoticed, due to confusion with other symptoms of old age, and these people not being very visible in society, often living alone, sometimes with minimal social support, or family interaction.

Although many senior citizens opt for serviced residential accomodation, and maintain community interaction by using aged care services and facilities, there are many who fall through these safety nets, some living in relative isolation, and sometimes in impoverished conditions.

Using alcohol or drugs for relief of boredom, and emotional stress is more likely to occur in old people who live in social isolation, and who might have undiagnosed mental health issues and problems.

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Part of the problem for baby boomers is that many grew up in the 1960′s and 70′s seeing widespread recreational drug use as a way of life. As such, these people might have fewer problems with making drug use a choice, particularly if in their youth they turned on with drugs and were part of the hippy culture and value system. Others who chose not to participate in the drug scene when young, might see drugs as an option for recreational use, now that they are no longer in the work force or have family responsibilities.

One of the concerns for older citizens is that they might not realize the risks of drinking alcohol, or taking illicit drugs while taking prescription medications. Indications are that many older people see no problem in continuing, or starting to drink alcohol despite being on medications that are not compatible with alcohol drinking.

Concerns have been expressed, that when elderly people go in for medical checkups, receive medications, very often their possible use of alcohol or illicit drugs is not taken into account, is not discussed with them by their doctor. As many doctors are relatively young, they simply do not consider that the oldies are doing much at all with their lives, let alone getting into drug use and abuse.

 The options that are normally used to make people more socially interactive and less socially isolated do not always work for old people, as they do for the young. Often older people have become set in their ways. Work that is paid, or voluntary might not appeal to someone who sees their retirement as a reward for a lifetime already spent in the workforce.

Seniors might be reluctant to meet with new people, already have family ties and connections. Even if these traditional social supports are not actually providing much by way of help to a senior citizen, they still might not want to go out and widen their existing social circle.

When there is a degree of impairment, such as deafness, blindness, memory loss it is more difficult for people to engage, even when introduced to social opportunities.

Whereas previously the post retirement years were funded by a pension, and were, for most people, relatively secure, people today retiring in their 60′s from paid work and regular employment – might be looking at another 30 years of life – for which they will need support and funding. Part of the downside of extended longevity is how can we, as individuals, and as communities meet the cost of support, at a level that enables quality of life, and recreational pursuits that are age appropriate.

As people age there is a tendency to become less socially interactive and more self reliant. If older people resort to drug use to combat loneliness, and boredom, it is a recipe for increasing levels of mental and physical ill health, and possible injury – a potential burden to government funding.

 Already indications of an emerging problem show up with statistics from the State of Victoria, in Australia, that report alcohol related admissions to hospital ER, for people over the age of 65 have increased from 3.3 per 10,000 in 2004, to 8.2 per 10,000 in 2008.

Anyone in Canada with issues of dependency on alcohol or drugs can be helped, and no one should feel that it is too late, not worth the trouble to get the help that you need.

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Comprehensive alcohol and addiction recovery centers in Canada provide complete addiction recovery and open the way to happiness and real contentment – for the rest of your life.