I know an older person who drinks and uses pills too much. Whats the point in trying to stop them?
• The point is that older people who abuse alcohol or other drugs tend to be unhappier, sicker and more socially isolated. Being actively addicted is a miserable way to live, no matter what your age. • Many times, it’s the mixture of alcohol with prescription drugs that gets older people into trouble. They may not realize that their tolerance for alcohol drops as they get older. If they take alcohol along with mood-altering prescriptions, they can have problems quickly. • People who hold back from getting help for older alcoholics or prescription addicts often say, “I don’t want to take away the little pleasure they still have.” The truth is that addiction interferes with the pleasures that could be a part of their lives. It makes them sick. • Getting beyond the addiction or abuse makes them happier. Contrary to what people imagine, recovery rates for older people are just as good as for younger people. Older people tend to respond well to treatment and have improved lives because of i
