The way that our bodies react to various medications changes as we get older. The ability of an older person’s body to process medications is significantly different from that of a younger person’s body due to the biological changes that occur in our bodies with time. It’s possible that as you get older, a lower dose of a prescription drug you’ve been taking for years will have a different effect on you than it did when you were younger. The same amount of tranquilizer that had very little effect on you before can suddenly put you to sleep in a matter of minutes.
As you become older, your sensitivity will rise, and you may find that you are unable to use medications in the same way that you did in the past since your body is less able to withstand the effects of such substances.
As you become older, your metabolism will naturally slow down as well. Therefore, whenever you consume addictive substances such as drugs or alcohol, the substance remains in your body at higher levels for a longer amount of time due to the fact that your body processes these substances more slowly than the bodies of younger people.
Because older addicts tend to have higher concentrations of drugs and alcohol in their systems, they are more likely to be involved in accidents and sustain injuries. Take, for instance, a drug addict who is elderly and takes tranquilizers. The sedative effects of the medicine continue to be very powerful after several hours, which increases the risk that older patients will trip or fall.
A significant number of elderly drug addicts already struggle with comorbid medical issues, which are only made worse by their addiction. Addiction itself may contribute to the development of certain physical conditions.
The fact that elderly people are more inclined to california alcohol rehab at home, where they don’t have to worry about the consequences of their behavior (such as hangovers), makes it easier to conceal the prevalence of drug addiction within this demographic. They don’t interact with others very frequently; thus, people might not notice how much they drink.
In comparison to people of different ages in the country, those who are 65 and older have a significantly higher rate of abusing prescription drugs. The fact that older persons are less likely to feel the effects of a drug as compared to their younger counterparts is one of the primary contributors to the widespread problem of prescription drug addiction. Therefore, if individuals find that a certain drug has fewer effects on them, they might use it more frequently or at higher doses. After some time, their body will acquire a tolerance to the medicines, which will force them to take a higher and higher dose in order to experience the same effects.
The tolerance that has been increased is not the same thing as resistance. Although older folks may be able to handle the medications better than their younger counterparts, the effects of the drugs may be amplified due to their heightened sensitivity to the drugs as well as their slower metabolism.
It is possible for senior drug addicts to develop major health problems as they continue to abuse the prescription drugs they are taking. Drugs have the potential to cause harm to internal organs and can make preexisting disorders worse.
The treatment for elderly drug addiction must begin right away in order to prevent further health concerns. In the event that you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, do not hesitate to get in touch with a qualified addiction counselor.
