Aging addicts
With doctors doling out prescription drugs as fast as the drug companies can make them, it turns out they're creating an even bigger problem than the illnesses they're trying to solve: a growing number of aging addicts.
A recent government survey said that the number of adults over age 50 with substance abuse problems will double by 2020, largely because of an overuse of prescription drugs.
Even though alcohol still remains the most frequently abused substance, the abuse of prescription painkillers is sharply on the rise. More and more baby boomers are getting prescriptions to potent, dangerous, and highly addictive drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin, along with anti-anxiety pills like Valium and Xanax.
And even worse, those prescriptions are resulting in a sharp rise in the number of emergency room visits by older people who've overdosed on pharmaceuticals.
These are some pretty scary numbers. But they're not all that surprising. The truth is, a lot of today's older people came out of a time when drug use was just becoming fashionable (think Woodstock, 1969, and free love). Because of this, experts say a lot of today's adults are simply too comfortable using drugs to treat all sorts of problems, making them more vulnerable to drug abuse problems later on.
There's only one common-sense way to solve this problem: Don't take drugs you don't need.
You don't want to be a statistic -- one of those patients who started taking OxyContin for back pains, and then all of the sudden had to take it even when your back was fine. And I'm sure you don't want to wind up in the emergency room.
Drugs should only be a piece of the pain-treatment picture.
Plus, recent research suggests that the longer you use these drugs, the less responsive your body will be to their pain-killing effects, so the pain just gets worse. Meanwhile, these drugs can also cause mood problems and depression, which just worsens your perception and experience of pain. (For more information about treating depression, check out the upcoming August issue of America's Country Doctor.)
Physical therapy, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy (which teaches you how to cope with and manage pain) can all play crucial roles in learning to recover without relying on drugs alone.
In a perfect world, we could do without painkillers entirely. But the fact is, as long as they're out there, people will continue to use them. Of course, when used properly and under the supervision of an experienced doctor, these drugs could help reduce your pain while you engage in other non-drug pain management activities. That's why it's so important to work with a doctor who will pay close attention and monitor your progress, especially if he's prescribed a dangerous and addictive drug like OxyContin or Xanax.
But what's even more important is that you be honest with your doctor and with yourself. When the pain stops, stop the drug.
Depression now could indicate life in a nursing home later
Here's yet another reason why it's so important to treat depression quickly and with the same seriousness that you would treat any other physical illness or injury: A recent study showed that adults who frequently deal with sadness or depression are more likely to end up in a nursing home later.
Researchers surveyed several hundred thousand seniors in and out of nursing homes. Out of 13,261 participants who admitted that they were dealing with depression, 13 percent wound up in nursing homes by the time the study was completed.
While diabetes and heart failure are the most common reasons why seniors eventually move to managed care facilities, depression is considered the third highest predictor of whether a person will eventually have to live in a nursing home -- surpassing even serious conditions like cancer and arthritis.
These findings don't really surprise me all that much. The fact is, we've long realized that depression is often linked to other diseases. There's a lot of research and evidence that shows depressed people face a greater risk for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. And depression can also be a risk factor for other problems, like Alzheimer's disease.
Depressed people are also more likely to exercise less, eat poorly, and drink too much alcohol -- all certain predictors of poor health later on.
So you can see why I can't stress enough how important it is that you treat depression like any other illness, and get it treated immediately, no matter how mild the case may seem. Mild depression can grow into major depression if you ignore it.
And you may not even have to take antidepressants to get the job done. There's a good chance that a mood-boosting supplement, like rhodiola rosea, some diet changes, and some exercise could do the trick. So make sure that you ask your doctor about natural methods for treating depression before filling a prescription for Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, or one of those other antidepressants out there. And don't rule out cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been proven to help you learn positive thoughts and behaviors, and, in my view, is as effective as any drug.
To learn more about dealing with depression, check out the upcoming August issue of America's Country Doctor. I'll tell you about why antidepressants aren't always the best place to start when treating depression, and how to tell whether you're seriously depressed or just battling a case of the blues.
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
