Alcohol abuse is responsible for one in eight deaths among older Americans. It is predicted that there will be an increase in illicit drug use and alcohol abuse among the baby boomer cohort as many have showcased addiction to prescription medication in the past.

Santa Clara University

Older adults are most commonly are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, insomnia, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and dementia. 

Common Mental Health Conditions in Geriatric Adults

It is a mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medication. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most powerful form of SUDs.

Substance Use Disorder

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Psychology and aging: Psychologists make a significant contribution. American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/psychology-and-aging. 

Psychology and Aging: Psychologists Make a Significant Contribution

Generally speaking, anxiety is a reaction by the body that ensues negative internal experiences such as negative thoughts or feelings. Physical changes may also follow, such as an increase in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and so on.

Anxiety

Dementia is characterized by memory loss and impairment of mental functioning that. Depression, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and wandering are symptoms of the illness.

Dementia

Substance Abuse in Geriatric People 

Older white Americans have the highest rates of suicide. Two-fifths of older adults who committed suicide visited their primary care physician in the past week and about three-quarters did so in the past month.

Suicide in Geriatric People

Geriatric nurses undergo chronic lack of time, irregular worktime, limiting career growth, disruptive patients and patient families, and stressors from losing patients. Altogether, this leads to anger, anxiety, depression, and frustration.

Common Mental Conditions in Geriatric Nurses

Insomnia, the most prevalent sleep disorder, is characterized by a persistent difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep. Individuals with this condition often experience significant delays before falling asleep and may wake up frequently during the night, struggling to resume sleep. According to diagnostic criteria, these sleep disturbances must occur at least three nights a week for a minimum of one month.

Insomnia

Addictions counseling, also called substance abuse counseling, is a specialization in counseling that focuses on treating individuals with a dependency on drugs or alcohol.

Addictions Counseling

Mindfulness has been studied for its usage in those suffering from addiction to substances. Mindfulness has been shown in some scenarios to be effective in decreasing addictive behaviors in people addicted to substances such as opioids, heroin, cocaine, drinking, and smoking. 

Mindfulness for those suffering from substance use disorder

Symptoms include: 
-Sudden weight loss or gain
-Pupils that are smaller or larger than usual
-bloodshot eyes
-changes in appetite and sleeping patterns
-slurred speech
-impaired coordination or tremors 
-deterioration of the physical appearance or changes in grooming practices
running nose



Substance Use Disorder Symptons 

Occurs after the body has adapted to the drug's presence after a period of time. When the drug is abruptly removed, it can cause a variety of physical symptoms. In some cases, this can be dangerous.

Substance Withdrawal Disorder

- Theories include opponent, inhibitory control, reward deficiency, incentive sensitization, aberrant learning, and anti-reward theory 

Neuroadaptive Theories in Addiction/Craving

A chronic syndrome characterized by anterograde and retrograde amnesia due to alcoholism, along with other cognitive deficits. It is caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1), which damages neurons. It can also involve deficits in executive functioning, apathy, and social impairments. 

Korsakoff's Syndrome

AUDIT-C is a screener test for evaluating current alcohol consumption risk. 

Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C)

Alcohol Use Disorder is characterized by symptoms such as alcohol craving, recurrent use of alcohol that interferes with the fulfillment of one’s daily responsibilities, alcohol-seeking behavior, inability to control one’s drinking, drinking despite potential hazards (e.g., drinking while driving), the need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve its effects (tolerance), and withdrawal symptoms when one stops or reduces alcohol intake (e.g., hand tremors, nausea, agitation, hallucinations). The disorder is distinguished as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number of these symptoms that an individual may have: Mild cases present with two to three symptoms; moderate cases four to five symptoms; and severe cases six or more symptoms.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Health Psychology research studies relating to Substance Abuse include

- ICU Admissions and Alcohol Misuse
- Factors Associated with AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder)
- Alcohol Use and Gender



Health Psychology Research Relating to Substance Abuse

Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are a category of drugs that increase nervous system activity. This group includes cocaine, amphetamines, cathinones, and MDMA, which act as dopamine agonists. Other stimulants like nicotine and caffeine function by affecting acetylcholine and adenosine neurotransmitter systems, respectively.

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