Health

16 HEALTH • Fall 2018 Substance use a growing concern among the older set \\ Livia Gershon AGING AND USING While some of this growth may reflect positive public health messag- es resulting in more people seeking treatment for their problems, Central Massachusetts providers say there appears to be a growing problem of substance misuse among older adults. Vic Digravio, president and CEO of the Natick-based Association for Behavioral Healthcare, said providers who his group represents report that that problems with both mental health and substance abuse seem to be on the rise across all age groups and across the state. "They've been saying for years they're seeing increased acuity levels on the mental health side as well as the substance use disorder side," he said. "I don't think anybody has a real good answer to what's causing that phenomenon." Romas Buivydas, vice president of clinical development at Worcester- based behavioral health agency Spectrum Health Systems Inc., said one reason more older people are being diagnosed with substance use disorders is simply that the popula- tion of older adults is growing fast. But he said it's also important to look at the specific patterns of addiction among older people. Buivydas said some people have longstanding issues with alcohol, pain medications, or other drugs that can get worse over time. Others, though, may begin misusing sub- stances as a result of life events that become more common for people in their sixties and above. The death of a friend or spouse can trigger unhealthy drinking or drug use. Boredom and loneliness, which often become bigger problems after some- one retires or when their mobility is reduced, can also contribute. Older people, and those around them, may not realize the effect alco- hol or drugs are having on them, Buivydas said. "Symptoms could be negated by simply saying 'they're old, they're lonely, they're depressed," he said. "But if a memory problem is hap- pening after drink— coordination problems, falls, failing to bathe or keep clean—these are all symptoms of abuse of alcohol." Buivydas said another issue is that people may not realize that their old habits are affecting them differently as they age. "The same dose of any medicine, the same dose of alcohol, is now going to be different than when you were younger," he said. "It's going to hit you harder." Mary Fierro, vice president for P H O T O / E D D C O T E S ubstance abuse has been very much in the news for several years, with coverage often focused on young people struggling with opioid addiction. But more quietly, older adults in Central Massachusetts and across the nation are also suffering from the misuse of drugs—most commonly alcohol but also prescription medications and even street drugs like heroin. Between 2014 and 2017, the number of Massachusetts residents over age 65 admitted for substance use treatment grew by 27 percent, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The number admitted for heroin abuse, though much smaller in total, grew by 83 percent. The medication-assisted treatment team at the Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester. From Left to right: psychologist Stephen Waters, social worker Carolyn Durning, nurse Hannah Simon-Girard, Dr. Zachary Bay, and medical assistant Yuriko Maldonado.

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