Older adults are abusing booze and drugs

Older is not always wiser when it comes to drugs and alcohol. A new survey by the Hanley Center, a Florida-based drug and alcohol treatment facility, found that 40 percent of the older patients treated by the center throughout the years said they started abusing alcohol and drugs between the ages of 48 and 64.

The main reasons respondents gave for abusing drugs and alcohol was depression and anxiety, often made worse by financial problems or the stresses brought on by retirement.

The center noted that "older adults face a distinct set of changes and challenges as they enter their golden years." It also said many older people abuse drugs and alcohol for years before they realize they have a problem.

Unlike younger adults whose drug problems often center on illicit substances, older people most commonly abuse prescription medications such as pain relievers.