Out of the Shadows
Uncovering Substance Use and Elder Abuse

Module 3: Substance Use and Other Risk Factors - Page 7 of 16

Misuse of Medications

The daily regimen of the average older adult requires careful tracking of various vitamins, prescription drugs, and other supplements beneficial to long life and health. Health practitioners are increasingly concerned about health effects from these and other medications taken improperly.

Statistics support the potential for harm. Half of all hospitalizations for adverse drug reactions are older adults over 65 years old. ref For more information, see What is Medication Misuse?

Experts have identified several concerns regarding medication abuse in institutional settings.

  1. Institutionalized older adults take more medications than any other group. ref
  2. While acknowledging that survey methods vary widely among studies, a 1995 review of studies on drug use in nursing homes noted psychoactive drugs were prescribed for 34 percent to 90 percent of nursing home residents. ref
  3. One study of adverse drug events among residents in a Veteran's Affairs nursing home implicated four commonly prescribed medications in 72 percent of the cases. ref
Half of all hospitalizations for adverse drug reactions are older adults over 65 years old.

In some cases, medications can be underused, particularly in treating depression and pain. Some physicians fail to diagnose depression in older adults, and those diagnosed may not be taking medication properly.

For more indepth information on substance abuse among older people, see:

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