Recorded presentation

Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD¹, Puneet Singhal, MS¹, Van Doren Hsu, PharmD¹, James Gardner, MS¹, Ilene Zuckerman, PharmD¹, and Becky A Briesacher, PhD². (1) Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 515 West Lombard Street, Room 275, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-4352, lsimoniw@rx.umaryland.edu, (2) The Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 515 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

The problem use of prescription drugs with addiction potential is a current and growing problem among aging individuals living in the community. Unlike their younger counterparts, prescription drug abuse and dependency usually occurs in elders as a result of medical exposure to prescription drugs with addiction potential. The prevalence of this risk factor in elders, however, is unknown, as are the patient factors associated with medical exposure of abusable prescription drugs. Using the 1999 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, a nationally-representative survey of Medicare-eligible elderly residing in the community, we estimated that 21.7 percent, or 7.2 million older adults age 65 and older were medically exposed to prescription drugs with addiction potential. These drugs included opioid analgesics and benzodiazepine tranquilizers, as well as sedative-hypnotics. We further determined that 24.3 percent of community-dwelling elders were exposed to prescription drugs that dangerously interact with alcohol. Exposure was significantly higher in elderly females than men (24.6% versus 17.7%, respectively). Other potential risk factors for medical exposure to abusable prescribed medicines include younger age (65-74), white or Asian race, being divorced or widowed, and living alone. These findings suggest the need for careful screening by health and other providers for elders’ use of abusable prescription drugs and use of alcohol.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the continuum of medical exposure to problem use of prescription drugs with addiction potential by community-dwelling elders.
• To recognize which prescription drugs are particularly problematic for elders due to their addiction potential and/or ability to interact with alcohol.
• To recognize factors which place elders at risk for prescription drug dependency and abuse.

Keywords: Drug Abuse, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation