Substance Abuse Among Older Adults Essay - 1317 Words

I was surprised to hear that substance abuse is a growing epidemic among our elderly because when I think of the elderly I don’t think falling over on the floor drunk or sitting at a bar knocking drinks back. It really is an â€Å"invisible epidemic†. It was shocking to hear that because of insufficient knowledge, health care providers often overlook substance abuse among older adults and fail to diagnose them correctly. â€Å"Symptoms of substance abuse in older individuals sometimes mimic symptoms of other medical and behavioral disorders common among this population, such as diabetes, dementia, and depression. Problems stopping from alcohol consumption, including interactions of alcohol with prescribed and over-the-counter drugs, far outnumber any other substance abuse problem among older adults. Furthermore, many of the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse among younger populations do not apply to older adults: older adults are no longer in the work force, have smaller social networks, and drive less. Even when there is the suspicion of a substance abuse disorder, the practitioner may have difficulty applying the diagnostic criteria to a wide variety of nonspecific symptoms. With a younger patient, serious physical problems can be more easily ruled out, leading quickly to a diagnosis of substance abuse in the presence of certain symptoms. With an older patient, health care providers are often in a quandary - symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, insomnia, chronic pain, orShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe number of older Americans will increas e from 35 to 70 million by the year 2030 (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2000). The nation’s population will increase 18% during and the population aged 65 and older will increase 78% ( Wan, Sengupta, Velkoff, DeBarros, 2005). One growing concern within the elderly population is that of substance abuse as it pertains to the increasing numbers of substance abusers, and/or the increasing rates of substance abuse among the elderly populationRead MoreDrug Abuse Within The Elderly Population1135 Words   |  5 Pagesnumber of prescriptions written for controlled substances (those with an addictive quality) has increased more than 150% since 2008. Until recently, the social issue of drug abuse within the elderly population has not been widely understood or addressed. Because this is an issue affecting an ever-growing number of the country’s population, the focus of our practice based research project will be based primarily on the increasing number of older adults who are becoming addicted to prescription drugsRead MoreSubstance Abuse in Older Populations1147 Words   |  5 PagesThe issue of substance misuse and abuse among the elderly population is complex. The elderly rarely use alcohol or drugs to get high rather drug or alcohol use that begins after age 60 appears fundamentally different (Culberson Ziska 2008). The elderly sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate the physical and psychological pain from the onslaught of medical and psychiatric illness, the loss of loved ones or social isolation (Culberson Ziska 2008). Elderly patients have a combinationRead MoreSubstance Abuse and the Elderly Essay example1705 Words   |  7 PagesSubstance Abuse and the Elderly Substance abuse in the elderly exists just as in any other population. Many seniors develop substance abuse problems due to circumstances or situations due to the aging process. A report by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 17% of adults age 60 and older are affected by alcohol abuse and abuse of legal drugs. The report also states that a third of those seniors who abuse substances didRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression820 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough older adults are at increased risk of depression, it is not a normal part of aging (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015; Mental Health Association, 2016). Depression is among the leading causes of disability in the general adult population, ages 18 years and above (US Preventative Services Taskforce [USPST], 2016). The US Preventative Services Taskforce recommends that all adult patients be screened for depression (USPST, 2016). Approximately 6% of older adults, ages 65Read MoreSubstance Abuse Among The Elderly1668 Words   |  7 Pagesand with it we’ve seen greater longevity among America’s elder population. The number of Americans age 65 or older are living longer, in more comfort and in better health than ever before. However, not all American elders are living in good health. As our aging bab y boomers live longer, a substantial and growing percentage of older adults misuse alcohol, prescription drugs, or other substances (Bartel, Blow, Brockmann, 2005). In turn, substance abuse among the elder is generating major health concernsRead MoreSubstance Abuse And The Health Care Act1489 Words   |  6 Pagesalso seen how these issues can carry over into my personal life. In this paper, I will discuss Substance Abuse (alcohol) and how it is becoming a prevalent issue in our communities and our way of life. Substance Abuse has become a major problem, as we discovered that there is a connection between substance abuse, child neglect and abuse, and poverty rates. For many years, concerns about substance abuse has been prevalent in communities and at many levels of government. IntroductionRead MoreSubstance Abuse Disorders And The Lgbtq Community Essay1063 Words   |  5 PagesSubstance Abuse Disorders and the effect on LGBTQ+ Adults This paper is to show the shockingly disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ community members with various substance abuse issues compared to heterosexual community members. This paper will briefly go over the history of Substance Abuse and the LGBTQ+ community. It will also show the evidence of risk factors of this population both current and previous, as well as some ideas to implement while working with the LGBT+ population. History SubstanceRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol And Tobacco On The Age Of Addiction981 Words   |  4 Pagesaddiction. Whether it is fast paced lifestyles and over work, obsession with sports or video games, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse. A person can end up with a drug addiction or alcohol addiction at any age. Younger people face different social pressures surrounding drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse is often related to negative experiences at some point during life. Researchers have found that abuse at any age can influence an individual s choice to turn to drugs or alcohol. Middle age and elderly dealRead MoreDysthymia And Substance Abuse Within Adults And Treatments Used For Recovery1576 Words   |  7 PagesDysthymia and Substance Abuse within Adults and the Treatments Used for Recovery Dysthymia (recently categorized into a new disorder called Persistent Depressive Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM – V)) is a mood disorder where an adult has depression that lasts for at least two years or longer. While moderately depressed, according to Butcher, Hooley, and Mineka (2014), a person must also have at least two or more symptoms to be diagnosed with

Fahrenheit 451 And V For Vendetta, By Ray Bradbury

In the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury and the film V for Vendetta by James McTeigue, there are a different range of features of their text type which explore the common theme of individuality against oppression. A fascist government occupies London after a world war in V for Vendetta. Where V uses terrorist tactics to fight the dictators, after saving Evey from the secret police, he now discovers an ally in the battle against England’s corrupt government. Fahrenheit 451, set in the futuristic 24th century, tells the story of Guy Montag and his struggle with the censored society. Burning books as a living, he begins to question his occupation and joins an underground network of intellectuals to rebuild a literate and cultural†¦show more content†¦Alike, V for Vendetta explores the fear in a totalitarian regime with propaganda, controlled by the Norsefire party. The Chancellor uses oppression as a method to maintain control. The Norsefire party demonstrate s attributes of the Nazi regime in Germany. These texts, depict what can happen when governments take over the society, but there are some citizens who are willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure freedom for the people. Both V for Vendetta and Fahrenheit 451 pay close detail to its setting, where they can convey oppression and fear to their societies with their strict rules, in the future. Para 2 – Imagery cinematography The various cinematic features and imagery used in V for Vendetta and Fahrenheit 451 display the theme of individuals and their fight to overcome oppression. The cinematic features in V for Vendetta include sound, camera angles and flashbacks. McTeigue cleverly uses different techniques in scenes which leave an impact on the audience, how the individuals are able to unite. The music in the background which plays each time the bombs destroy a government building, creates the theme of freedom. With each explosion, there is a sense of each individual becoming freer in the society in which they no longer want to live in. As the music intensifies, achieving victory. Flashbacks are important to the theme of oppression becauseShow MoreRelatedConformity In Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury1005 Words   |  5 Pagesis doing nothing but boxing us in. Ray Bradbury is one of many authors to publish a novel surrounding these concepts. His book Fahrenheit 451, uses his protagonist Montag, to repres ent the way conformity can impact the individual. Bradbury wrote the novel during a time when the world feared the reign of communist government, and loss of the known society. Bradbury wanted to make people question not all the world, but also themselves. Throughout Fahrenheit 451 the audience is introduced to a dystopic

Classical mechanics free essay sample

A speech proposal Is a brief description of what you are going to say In a speech, The most common situation in which you would be asked to write one would be for a high school or college course in writing or public speaking. However, while you may never be asked to write a speech proposal outside of school, you may be asked to give a brief summary on the topic you will be speaking on which is when these skills will come in handy.Descriptive speeches are trying to tell the audience a story or explain a topic. An Inspirational story or an amusing anecdote about your life Is a descriptive storytelling beech. A physics lecture is a descriptive informative speech because you are trying to make the audience understand something. Descriptive speeches can be used to support an argument. For example, it might explain certain facts about your nations tax laws that might make the listener want to lower taxes. We will write a custom essay sample on Classical mechanics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Or It might be a story with a moral at the end.For example, the story of an immigrant familys struggles will probably alert listeners to the issues facing immigrants and possibly make them want to help. 2 State your purpose. For an argumentative speech, summarize what your argument or thesis is. Raising Taxes stifles economic growth. For a descriptive speech, state what you are trying to tell the audience. This is the story of a Somalia refugee who was separated from her family or An overview of Classical Mechanics Tell the reader the basics of what you are going to say.For an argumentative speech, state the evidence that you will use to support your argument. First, I will give historical examples of situations in which excessive taxation led too decline In quality of life For a descriptive informative speech, outline the aspects of the topic you would Eke the audience to learn. Topics Include linear and angular acceleration and velocity, ravine, and collisions. For a descriptive story telling topic, summarize the story you are trying to tell. Man was separated from her mother at the age of seven and came to the united States as a refugee. This is the story of how State what you wish the audience to take away from the speech. In an argumentative speech, this is simply a restatement of the thesis and evidence. In a descriptive speech, this is a moral of the story or a conclusion derived from the evidence.

Post-Traumatic Disorder Essay Example

Post-Traumatic Disorder Essay Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disorder that is experienced by some people after going through some shocking or scary events, after a traumatic experience, an individual feels afraid and fear triggers many changes in the body and help defend danger or avoid it (Kozaric-Kovacic 9). The fight to flight situation is the reaction of the trauma, and the body protects the person from harm. If the symptoms persist, the person is therefore diagnosed with PSTD. Some individuals experience unexpected death of loved ones, and the disorder tends to begin early although some start years afterward. Symptoms, Risk factors and onset age The symptoms are supposed to last more than a month, and the situation becomes severe enough to interfere with the relationship or the daily activities. For someone to be diagnosed with PSTD, an adult must have the following for at least one month. The person should have one re-experiencing symptoms like flashbacks. This kind of symptoms allows one to relive the trauma over and over like the racing heart and sweating. The other re-experiencing symptoms that the patient should have so that he can be diagnosed with PSTD is bad dreams and frightening thoughts (Kozaric-Kovacic 9). The re-experiencing symptoms happen as a barrier in the persons everyday routine. The symptoms begin from the person feelings and out of his ideas, and thats why they keep reoccurring. We will write a custom essay sample on Post-Traumatic Disorder specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Post-Traumatic Disorder specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Post-Traumatic Disorder specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer All the things that remind them of the tragic event like object, words or situation and they are also the cause of re-experiencing symptoms. The diagnosis also happens if there is at least one avoidance system, two arousal and reactivity symptoms and mood symptoms and cognition experience. The avoidance symptoms include the person staying away from events that can remind them of their predicament and also when they tend to evade what they are feeling about the traumatic event. Arousal symptoms are constant, and the symptoms can make someone angry and feel stressed. They start to lose appetite, sleep and they become slow in their jobs (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatments and Drugs Mayo Clinic). Moods and cognitive becomes worse after the traumatic events, but they are not caused by being injured or abusing drug but rather by the alienation of the person with the loved ones. The risk factor of PTSD involves all the ages, but some factors might make someone more susceptible than others like experiencing child abuse or neglect and having mental health problems like anxiety and depressions. If someone has a relative, who has mental problems that include depression or even PTSD and lack of enough support systems from the family and friends (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatments And Drugs Mayo Clinic). If someone had a combat exposure, threatened with a weapon, being physically attacked and childhood abuse experience together with events like fire, robbery, car crashes or planes, terrorists attacks and other extreme life events that can threaten a person. Course of Disease Progression Symptoms of PSTD begin within the first three months after the traumatic event has happened. There might be a delay of months or even years before the first symptoms have appeared. Acute Stress Disorder is what is experienced first after the immediate aftermath of the trauma (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatments And Drugs Mayo Clinic). The duration that occurs with complete recovery usually varies within the three months of incubation in almost half of the reported cases. Other patients experience longer periods like 12 months after the trauma. The course is usually characterized by warning and waxing symptoms. The reactivation of symptoms might occur in response to the reminder of the original trauma, trauma events, and life stressors. The duration and severity of the exposure of the traumatic event are the most important factors affecting the developing likelihood of the disorder. The disorder can develop in individuals who do not have the predisposing conditions especially if the stressor is very extreme. There is an evidence of a heritable component to the transmission of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatments And Drugs Mayo Clinic). High degree of vulnerability can be recorded if someone has a history of depression and therefore susceptible to PTSD. Effects on the Individual, Family, Friends and Society PTSD has various effects on the individual and the people around the person lie the family. Individuals who have PTSD have hard feeling emotions and therefore they detach themselves from their loved ones, therefore, giving those who love them a hard time to live around them (Wimalawansa Causes And Risk Factors For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). They might have hard personal relationships which might affect their children giving them behavioral problems due to lower parental satisfaction. Family and friends feel guilty about a fact that they cant change what had happened to the individual or they can lie in avoidance and fear of what the person might do when he or she remembers the tragic event (Wimalawansa Causes and Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). The worrying of family members might cause depression among the members of the family, and they might develop other complications out of anger and the feeling of helplessness. Treatment PTSD can be treated, and when the treatment occurs, it allows someone to have the sense of control over their life (Wimalawansa Causes and Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). The primary treatment is psychotherapy, and one can also try the secondary treatment of medication. A patient might be required to carry out different types of psychotherapy like cognitive therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and exposure therapy. Therapy is necessary to allow the individual to acquire control of their life and fight fear after the traumatic event (Salyers et al. 17). Apart from therapy other treatment can be considered which are referred to as a secondary treatment. The treatment is using several medications which can help to improve symptoms of PTSD. The types of medication include antidepressants, prazosin, and anti-anxiety medications. The medications are effective in various ways. Antidepressants are the medication which helps the symptoms of depression and anxiety (Office of Research Development). The drugs assist in eradicating the sleep problem and increasing one concentration. The treatment has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat PTSD. Prazosin is used to treat symptoms like recurrent nightmares and insomnia; the drug only suppresses nightmares in people with PTSD. Anti-anxiety medications improve the feelings of anxiety and stress for a short while so that severe anxiety can rely on; the drugs are however not taken for an extended period since they are said to have the potential for abuse. Barriers of Treatment There have been reported cases of barriers that are related to the treatment of PTSD. It has been recorded that people who have psychological injuries including PTSD receive minimally adequate treatment for their injuries. It has been noted that there has been a big gap between the number of service members and the veterans who had PTSD and the number of people who receive high-quality care for it (Office of Research Development). The gap, therefore, represents extensive human suffering and loss of productivity. Barriers that exists are the patient barriers, provider barrier, and institutional barriers. The patient barrier could be about the employment effects that seeks treatment for PSTD; some have got the mentality that mental health care is ineffective. There is also the barrier that exists when people do not have adequate information on resources for care, financial concerns and logistic problems such as the distance of traveling. The providers barrier might include lack of training, treatment locations issues like transportation in war regions and also a lack of enough time. The organizational level barrier includes lack of requirements to do serious screening and treatment. The treatment programs which require significant time commitment such as the occupational rehabilitation treatment program might be a challenge since the time might be limited (Office Of Research Development). Some of the internal barriers that might be a challenge to treatment include public stigma and nave public exhibit prejudice. A lot of people associate individuals with extensive mental illness with segregation, and they stigmatize the people affected pushing them to the edge. Complications of Treatment and Medication Possible complications related to PTSD include increased the risk of suicide whereby it is brought about by panic and risk of suicidal thoughts. If the persons phobias are high, they might be in danger of committing suicide (Salyers et al. 18). They might also have some depression related diseases like the bipolar disorders which might worsen the anxiety increasing the risk of agitation, insomnia, and concentration problem. Other complications like gastrointestinal disorder, obesity, and loss of weight, allergic conditions and headaches might be increased if the anxiety is not suppressed. Nature vs. Nurture It has been identified that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be a result of nature and nurture together. It has been found that the genes and environment might interact to influence the risk of someone getting PSTD. In the sense of nurturing, individuals who experience a traumatic experience when they were children, they are likely to develop PTSD in adulthood than those exposed to one of the incidents (Salyers et al. 19). The study has indicated that individuals with a particular genetic mutation, have a high risk of developing PSTD. According to the information provided, PTSD is complex anxiety disorder which incorporates re-experiencing, arousal and avoidance to life-threatening circumstances. Moreover, it is an apparent effect of the environmental factors, and it has a heritable component. The study shows that genetic factors cause almost 30% of PTSD symptoms. Hope There is hope for the prevention and treatment of PTSD whereby veterans have conducted the National Center for PSTD to set agenda and research which would be used to educate individuals on the issues related to the disorder and how to prevent and seek treatment (Salyers et al. 20). The research will determine the prevalence of PTSD in women, prolonged exposure therapy, and cognitive therapy will be useful to reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Prazosin drugs have also been found to be effective drugs which can be relied on to reduce high blood pressure, prostate problems and can also be used to suppress nightmares and sleep loss in the PTSD patients. Work Cited Office Of Research Development. Research.va.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 5 Oct. 2016. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatments And Drugs Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 4 Oct. 2016. Kozaric-Kovacic, Dragica. Causes, Diagnoses And Treatment Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Acta Neuropsychiatrica21.S2 (2009): 9. Web. Salyers, Michelle P. et al. Barriers To Assessment And Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Other Trauma-Related Problems In People With Severe Mental Illness: Clinician Perspectives. Community Mental Health Journal40.1 (2004): 17-31. Web. 5 Oct. 2016. Wimalawansa, Sunil J. Causes And Risk Factors For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Importance Of Right Diagnosis And Treatment. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences5.2 (2013): n. pag. Web.