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When you think of a drug addict, you probably think of the show Breaking Bad, or some young people doing hard, illegal drugs.
But the truth is, your average drug addict probably looks a lot like your parents or grandparents.
In the US, the majority of people in drug addiction treatment programs are over the age of 50.
Most of the drugs being abused? Prescription opioids.
The research, headed by Dr. Benjamin Han at NYU School of Medicine, said, “Most notably we found a pronounced age trend in those utilizing opioid treatment programs from 1996 to 2012, with adults aged 50 or older becoming the majority treatment population.”
Some of these opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (Kadian, Avinza), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and codeine.
In 1996, the aged 50-59 population made up 7.8 percent of the total patient population in opioid treatment programs. In 2012, that number went up to 35.9 percent.
Not only that, but there was a 7.6 percent decrease in overall patients over that time period, which means that there are even more of the over 50s in these programs than we though.
The number of young addicts in treatment fell over this time period. For example, 40 and youngers made up 56.2 percent of all treatment program patients in 1996. Now, they only make up 20.5 percent.
White adult patients over 60 increased by 10.3 percent, while black adult patients decreased by 13.8 percent.
What does this mean?
More of the geriatric population is addicted. “Unfortunately,” says Dr. Han, “there is a lack of knowledge about the burden of chronic diseases and geriatric conditions or the cognitive and physical function of this growing population.”
Researchers hope to further understand how to treat these older patients, as this trend is suspected to increase.
