Text Size
Smaller
Bigger

Although the proportion of seniors in drug and alcohol rehab remains relatively low, this does not accurately reflect the level of drug and alcohol abuse amongst seniors. Tragically, seniors abusing drugs or alcohol, although desperately in need of rehab or other treatments, are statistically the least likely to be offered the assistance they need.

Seniors are the least likely to seek out treatment on their own, medical professionals are far less likely to appropriately diagnose abuse when it occurs, and family and friends remain reluctant to get involved, erroneously thinking that at such a late stage in life, nothing can really be done.

The fact is though that seniors respond very well to drug and alcohol rehab programs, and actually have a better success rate than the general population; and since the effects of drug and alcohol abuse are particularly damaging on the frailer bodies of the elderly, it is imperative that drug and alcohol abusing seniors get the rehab treatment they need.

Subscribe Subscribe to this topic category

Page last updated Aug 05, 2010

Creative Commons License
Copyright Notice
We welcome republishing of our content on condition that you credit Choose Help and the respective authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Alcohol Rehab for Older Women
Alcohol Rehab for Older Women - It Is Never too Late © Pol Ubeda
Seniors do very well in alcohol rehab, and since the risks of drinking increase as we age, older women who drink too much need help right now. Read Article
Older Adults October 15, 2007 (1)
Alcohol Abuse and Seniors
It's Never Too Late for Help: Alcohol Abuse and The Elderly © Dmitry Papkovich
Estimates put the number of alcohol dependent seniors in the millions, and only a fraction of these are getting the help they need. For a number of reasons, alcohol abuse in the elderly often goes undiagnosed; and too often, elderly alcoholics are never presented with the treatment options that could greatly improve their health and quality of life. Old age is not a valid reason for self destructive drinking, and families do not offer kindness to older relatives when they attempt to spare them the pain and difficulty of addictions treatment. The elderly deserve the same access to treatment as the rest of the population, and since alcohol is especially debilitating to older bodies, the time for any needed treatment is now. Read Article
Older Adults September 05, 2007

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.

Find Treatment
Browse by region »
Scan to call us
using your phone camera app