title: [Medical drug abuse and aging].
abstract: Drug addiction is often underestimated among the aged. Opiate drugs (mostly pain killers) are the most frequently implicated in drug addiction after benzodiazepines (BZD) in the aged. The subjects aged of 65 years or more are the most represented among the BZD users in France. Frequency of BZD use varies according to various studies from 39 to 55% in this age group. Leading a lonely life is associated with the use of psychotropic drugs among retired people (OR=1.7). Vulnerability at this age must take into account not only polypathology, but also the faster aging of a minority of the population under opiate drugs substitution treatment (OST), more subjects to drugs interaction. Drug addiction among elderly often reflects the drift of "lawful" doctor's instructions that leads to an increase in drugs use. The difficulty has to do with a lack of specificity of diagnosis of addiction at this age, but perhaps also with physicans'instructions in the aged. Some authors suggest that continued and prolonged use should be considered the main criterion for BZD addiction at this age, with or without increase in doses and failed attempt at cessation. Besides, the prescription of BZD increases after retirement and loneliness.
authors.affiliation: Pôle d'addictologie en Limousin, Centre hospitalier Esquirol, Limoges, France, Pôle de psychiatrie adulte 23G01, Centre hospitalier La Valette, Saint-Vaury, France, UMR/Inserm 1094 NET, Faculté de médecine, CHU de Limoges, France, Centre mémoire de ressources et de recherche du Limousin, Centre hospitalier Esquirol, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nubukpo
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clément
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012934:Social Isolation; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines
keywords: addictions; care; clinic; drugs; elderly; epidemiology; prevention