What is substance misuse?
Substance misuse and abuse for older adults can mean many things. It includes the use of drugs that can change your mood, such as alcohol, tranquilizers, or illegal drugs. Substance misuse also includes “risky drinking” or unsafe use of medications. Any substance misuse or abuse can cause serious health problems and problems with family and friends, money, and the law. What is risky drinking? Risky drinking is when someone drinks alcohol in ways that may not have caused problems yet, but may cause problems if the same drinking pattern is kept up. For some older people, this can mean drinking more than the recommended amounts (listed below). For some older adults with certain health problems or who take certain medications, this can mean drinking any alcohol. What is medication misuse? Using any prescription or over-the-counter drug in a way that is different from how it was prescribed is drug misuse. This includes using too much or too little, or not taking it on the schedule the docto
