While many are enjoying their golden years of retirement, countless others are struggling with behaviors that could potentially lead to various types of addiction.
Seniors are among those who have the greatest potential for loss in their life, whether it be loss of independence, loss of a spouse, family member, relative or friend or even the loss of a lifelong job through retirement. Experts are concerned for those seniors who may choose to cope with these losses by choosing activities that could lead them down the path of addiction.
It’s estimated that nearly three million seniors in the United States suffer from alcohol abuse or dependency on drugs. Professionals within the field of addiction estimate that, by the year 2020, those numbers could triple, leaving the baby boomer population scrambling for ways to deal with this newfound problem.
“Loss of important, meaningful things in life may contribute to addictive behaviors,” begins a spokesperson for Mountainside
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center. “An occasional drink for a senior begins as an innocent way to unwind and socialize with friends. Soon, that drink becomes more frequent and often times is used as a crutch to deal with losses and other serious life issues. Alcoholism and drug dependency aren’t the only addictions that seniors face. Gambling has become a favorite past time of many seniors as well. Normally, an occasional day trip to a casino doesn’t present a problem for most. However, when the trips or frequency of gambling begin to interfere with normal family interactions, a pattern of addiction begins to emerge.”
In an effort to help curtail potentially addictive behaviors in the elderly, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center offers the following tips for families:
• If your loved one becomes increasingly depressed, lovingly speak with them about your concerns and suggest that they talk to their doctor about possible treatment for their depression.
• Hoarding various types of objects can also be a method that some use to cope with losses in other areas of their lives. If you notice unusual, increased clutter or abnormal attachment to objects, address your concerns with your loved one.
• Often times, an individual who has developed a problem with gambling will request loans of varying amounts from different individuals. Even a small amount of money spent gambling could be the difference in whether the utilities are paid or not. If you notice that your loved one is having difficulty with paying bills that were previously never an issue, lovingly explore the topic of finances with them as you try to pinpoint the source of the problem.
Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is dedicated to helping individuals of every age group treat the growing problem of addiction. Within its modern drug rehab facility you will find skilled professionals serving a variety of clients with various addictions and in varying stages of addiction. The caring, compassionate team is made up of licensed and certified social workers and counselors who have extensive experience and specialty in the addiction treatment field. In addition, the staff includes a Nurse Practitioner, as well as a Registered Nurse, both of whom also have specializations and experience within the field of addiction treatment and alcohol rehab.
Mountainside also provides services for those individuals who come to them with dual diagnoses and require the services of a Psychiatrist to help conquer the unique challenges that dual diagnosis brings.
For the past 13 years, Mountainside has established itself as an innovator within the addiction treatment field, and the treatment modalities Mountainside utilizes are regarded as among the most cutting-edge approaches in helping individuals to get, and to remain, sober. As a result of their unique, innovative approaches to addiction treatment, Mountainside has become the model for the addiction treatment field.
The program, along with its professional addiction treatment team, have earned national recognition and resulted in Mountainside being invited to Washington by the White House to meet with the White House Drug Czar, John P. Walters, for an in-depth meeting on what makes its program so successful. These accolades did not go unnoticed within the addiction treatment field and resulted in the adoption by many throughout the country of a more holistic approach to drug addiction treatment.
If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have any questions, please contact Mountainside
Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center for a confidential inquiry at 800-762-5433.
