Florida Council of Catholic Women/Province of Miami at P. O. Box 1811, Labelle, FL 33975 US - WOMEN'S CONCERNS
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WOMEN'S CONCERNS
Alcohol and Prescription Drug Addiction a Problem for Older Women by Sheila Hopkins |
A study by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse indicates 11% of women over age 59 (over 3 million) are addicted to psychoactive prescription drugs and 7% are addicted to alcohol. As part of the study, prescriptions for psychoactive (mood altering) drugs given to 13,000 mature women over a six month period were reviewed. The report concluded that half of the prescriptions for tranquilizers and sleeping pills should not have been given or should have been given for shorter periods of time. One in four women use at least one psychoactive drug. Another problem pointed out by the study was the failure of physicians to recognize symptoms of abuse among older female patients. Only one percent of primary care physicians recognized common symptoms of alcohol abuse and 80% diagnosed the symptoms as depression. The report suggested physicians spend as little as five minutes counseling patients deemed at risk to help prevent the problem. Former first lady Betty Ford calls the situation a “hidden epidemic” with older women who are reluctant to come forward because of society’s stigmas and family members’ denial of the signs of abuse. “It is swept under the rug of denial and desperation of families and friends who cannot accept the reality of a mother or aunt or sister who may be abusing alcohol or addicted to it or who simply don’t know what to do about it,” Mrs. Ford said. Help is available through your local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous and/or Alcoholics Anonymous. Both are usually listed in the telephone book and offer support and referrals.