By Judith A. RuckiOriginal Source: foreveryoungwny.comIf you think the opioid epidemic is only affecting younger folks, think again. According to a report in Psychiatric Times, while opioid use disorders are more common in younger patients, “prevalence among the elderly is growing, and misuse poses unique risks in the geriatric population.”The informational web guide Addiction Center concurs. “Drug and alcohol abuse among the elderly is a rapidly growing health problem in the United States.” Adding, “Seventeen percent of people in the United States over 65 years old have abused prescription medications, according to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.”The Center on Addiction states, “A growing number of older Americans are becoming addicted to prescription opioid drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin. While drug-related deaths have increased dramatically in all age groups, the greatest percentage increase has been among adults ages fifty-five to sixty-four.”So, what can we do to protect our loved ones and ourselves from falling victim to this epidemic? We can start by acquainting ourselves with potential triggers for addiction in our senior population. These include:...click here to continue reading