Narconon of Georgia  

Most working in drug treatment will confirm that there has been an increase in older adults abusing prescription medications.  Anything goes with some of these guys and gals – xanax, Oxycontin, Ambien sometimes mixed with other pain killers or even alcohol.

It’s harder for older people to endure the discomfort of withdrawal and some choose to possibly live out their life addicted, tarnishing the golden years of their life.

It behooves doctors to learn the signs of addiction in their older clients and have a base of workable drug treatment programs to refer to.

Narconon 877-413-3073

MENOMONIE - A drug and addiction expert says the country is experiencing a growing problem with older adults addicted to pain killers.

"The prevalence of pain medication in our culture encourages a growing number of people developing dependency on pain meds," said William Moyers of St. Paul, executive director of the Hazelden Center for Public Advocacy. "It's hard to catch the addiction early on because a lot of the times the drugs are prescribed legally."

Moyers, 50, is the author of the bestselling memoir "Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption," which chronicles his recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.

He is the son of television network newscaster Bill Moyers.

 the National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, which started Sunday.

Older adults who become addicted to pain killers don't fit the stereotype of an addict, William Moyers said. They are employed, have families and abide by the law because their drugs usually are legal prescriptions.

Another problem with prescription medications is that young people from 16 to 20 are taking their parents' or grandparents' medications.

"You don't have to go to a crack house or a bar to get high," Moyers said. "You can get high out of your parents' medicine cabinets."

Doctors need to be educated about how pain medications are being used and to look for signs of abuse, and people must be educated to guard their prescriptions and be careful how they use them to prevent addiction.

"Addiction doesn't discriminate," Moyers said. "It doesn't care if you are from downtown Milwaukee, the south side of Chicago or Menomonie. It doesn't care if you are a college professor or a farmer. No one is immune to the problems of addiction."

Everyone is impacted directly or indirectly by addiction, Moyers said, noting the problems resulting from it can raise taxes, increase crime and reduce work productivity.

Moyers favors stronger drunken driving laws to get repeat offenders into treatment and hold them accountable.

He noted that, according to the federal government, only about 25 percent of the 20 million people who need addiction treatment are getting it because addicts are in denial, perceive a stigma or shame in seeking treatment or there aren't enough resources to help them.

When he speaks, Moyers shares his story of being a crack addict and alcoholic. He has been sober for 15 years after going through treatment four times in five years from 1989 to 1994.

"There is no cure for addiction, at least not yet," Moyers said. "There is a solution. The solution is treatment and recovery. I am not cured of my alcoholism. I am in remission."

Powers can be reached at 715-556-901

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