02-21-2024 PTL - Flipbook - Page 5
A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 5
What precipitates SUD?
Josiah G. always enjoyed a drink or two
before dinner and then some wine with his
meal. It was never a problem until he decided to slow down at work. He didn’t have a
lot of clients, just a few regulars. Then even
they moved away, and it wasn’t worthwhile
to maintain an office. Meanwhile, the one
or two drinks before dinner grew to include
couple at lunch. And then it got worse.
Brian Altman describes how it occurs.
“There are a lot of different factors, different pathways that lead a person to having
an SUD. There is not a single pathway.
People don’t suddenly develop a disorder.
They may have used alcohol in moderation
in the past. But their drinking may become
problematic after they retire or lose a spouse
and find themselves isolated. Other older
adults may be prescribed an opioid pain
reliever after they experience a physical
injury – such as a fall or after a surgical
procedure like a hip replacement – and the
individual may end up taking too much of
the medication. In both cases, the dependence may stem from being alone at home.
Where before they would have multiple
social interactions, going out becomes less
frequent and, sometimes, more difficult. So,
this is the recipe: physical and/or emotional
changes, maybe the loss of a few friends, all
of which lead to grief, loneliness, sadness
and stress. And then they have a problem.”
Dr. Ming R. Wang relates a story of
two patients in the Older Adults program
at Caron Pennsylvania Treatment Center.
“There are these two psychologists, both
high functioning. And both had years of
recovery from alcohol. They found themselves in a rut. Aspirations and ideations of
retirement don’t look as good in reality.
“One is widowed, the other divorced, but
both are depressed and grieving over their
careers. Now alone with too much time on
their hands, they think back to issues from
their youths, trauma, experiences, stuff they
had buried. Even with years of sobriety and
recovery, they relapse.”
Altman points out some other possible
triggers. “Older adults tend to have more
medical issues, so they are taking more
medications on a daily basis. There are real
problems with polypharmacy, taking more
than five medicines daily, because many
prescription medications interact badly with
alcohol and other substances, increasing
health risks. However, simply because an
older adult may need to take several medications, does not mean that it automatically
leads to substance misuse or use disorder.
A key way for older adults to avoid substance misuse or use disorder is to obviously take all the medications exactly as
prescribed. For example, if something happens, a fall or some accident, or someone
is having trouble sleeping at night, opioids
or benzodiazepines can be taken appropriately; however, if someone takes them at a
higher dose or for longer than prescribed,
they can become addicted.”
Wang agrees. “The causes are common
to older adults. Loss, in its many forms, is
often the key: loss of a sense of purpose,
loss of friends (loneliness) and isolation.
Most people have one or two of these, but
older adults can have all three. Then add
being single, widowed or divorced, and children out of the area. Isolation perpetuates
and exacerbates the symptoms.”
Who is susceptible?
“It’s circumstances that often lead to
the disorder,” says Altman. “For instance,
among the LGBTQ+ population, they expe-
rienced a great deal of loss during the AIDS
epidemic and now, as they become older
adults, don’t have spouses or children to
care for them. Today, many are protective
of each other.”
“Many older adults have used drugs
and alcohol all their lives without it being a
problem,” Wang says. “But with age, their
bodies react differently. Four drinks may not
have been a problem at 50. But at 70, they
don’t metabolize the alcohol as quickly, and
if it is combined with a benzodiazepine or an
opioid, or some other med they’ve been taking for years, there are very real problems.”
Chronic pain is a big reason people
take opioids. The medication works well for
years, letting them function normally. Then
the pain gets worse and there is a need to
increase the dosage. It isn’t the pain; it is an
SUD and it’s the need for a greater dose of
the medication to feed the addiction. Maybe
the primary care physician (PCP) doesn’t
pay attention and provides a new prescription. That leads to confusion, cognitive
impairment, imbalance, hurting themselves,
Substance use disorder,
continued on page 20
®
More everyday joy®
YOUR BEST LIFE IS HERE, NOW
Is it the elegant, breath-of-fresh-air Gettysburg setting? Or the shimmering community of residents with their variety of fun social
clubs and shared interests? Maybe it’s the wealth of world-class amenities that support a life of health and wellness, powered by a
collaboration with WellSpan Health? Or, given the relative tax benefits of a Pennsylvania residence, some extra fun money? Whatever
your best life looks like, come find your happy place by scheduling a tour of Amblebrook at Gettysburg and our 14 model homes.
55+ ACTIVE ADULT LIVING | SINGLE-FAMILY & VILLA HOMES FROM THE $300s | AmblebrookGettysburg.com | (866) 568-7281
The Community is intended to provide housing primarily for persons 55 years of age or older, and additional restrictions apply. The Community shall be operated as an age-restricted community in compliance with all applicable state
and federal laws. Any illustration/depiction is based on the current proposed development concepts, and actual development may vary from what is depicted. Certain features and amenities depicted have not yet been, and may not be,
constructed, and views may be impacted by future development. This material shall not constitute an offer or solicitation in any state where prior registration is required. Amblebrook™ is pending trademark registration by CCD Rock
Creek LLC. All rights reserved. 2024 CCD Rock Creek LLC. This promotion is a solicitation for the sale of homes or other interests in real estate as applicable at Amblebrook Gettysburg: N.J. Reg. No. 21-08-0001
