Researchers find that more retirees are suffering from alcohol and drug addiction
Dr. M.K. (Khal) El-Yousef pioneered the dual diagnosis method of recovery, which focuses not only on clinical treatment but also on therapeutic counseling for patients struggling with addiction problems. This two-pronged approach to healing allows patients to successfully investigate the underlying causes and symptoms of their struggle, both physical and psychological.
Patients can only achieve truly long-term recovery after they have been healed in body, mind and spirit, which is exactly why Dr. El-Yousef founded Fairwinds Treatment Center over 25 years ago. He wanted to offer a new, original, holistic approach to battling addiction, so patients would have the opportunity to rejoin their families and communities to lead happier and healthier lives.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Cornell University recently found that senior citizens often succumb to drug and alcohol addictions because they are emotionally unprepared to cope with the major life changes that come with aging and retirement. According to American Friends of Tel Aviv University News, nearly 3 million Americans aged 55 and older suffer from alcoholism, and that number is expected to grow to 6 million by 2020. Additionally, the rate of substance abuse among Americans over age 50 has more than doubled between 2002 and 2013.
The study was conducted over the course of 10 years as an annual phone-based survey on 1,200 service, construction and manufacturing workers aged 52-75.
"We found that the conditions under which people retired, whether they were pushed into it or it was something expected, which they planned for, had great bearing on alcohol and drug habits," Dr. Peter Bamberger reported in the study.
The research showed that a sudden excess of free time, increasingly severe money constraints, declining health and the deaths of family and friends all contribute to addiction problems among retirees. These circumstances lead to feelings of depression and purposelessness, which are known triggers for substance abuse and alcoholism. Marital strain was another common factor reported in the study, and also contributed to addiction issues.
The authors of the study, Dr. Bamberger and Dr. Professor Samuel Bacharach, suggested that it would be beneficial to increase public awareness of this addiction problem among the elderly, since many Americans seem to consider drug addiction and alcoholism as diseases that exclusively pose a risk for teens and young adults. They also suggested that programs should be formed to better support senior citizens emotionally and psychologically during the dramatic transition into retirement.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction problem, no matter how old you are or what your situation is, contact Fairwinds, one of the most highly respected drug and alcohol treatment centers in the nation. The professionals here strive to provide the best quality of care for each patient, aiming ultimately for long-term recovery.