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4--AUGUST 9, 2017
GOLDENDALE, WASHINGTON
seniors on
Dear Savvy Senior,
I'm worried about my 72-year-old mother who has
been taking the opioid medication Vicodin for her hip
and back pain for more than a year. I fear she's becom-
ing addicted to the drug but I don't know what to do.
Concerned Daughter
Dear Concerned,
The opioid epidemic is a national problem that is
hitting people of all ages, including millions of older
Americans. Here's what you should
know and do to help your mother. The cause ....
The main reason opioid addic-
tion has become such a problem for
people over age 50 is because over
the past two decades, opioids have
become a commonly prescribed (and
often overprescribed) medi-cation by
doctors for all different types of pain like arthritis,
cancer, neurological diseases and other ill-nesses
that become more common in later life.
Nearly one-third of all Medicare patients--almost
12 million people--were prescribed opioid painkill-
ers by their physicians in 2015. That same year, 2.7
million Americans over age 50 abused painkillers.
Taken as directed, opioids can manage pain ef-
fectively when used for a short amount of time. But
with long-term use, people ,need to be screened--
around 5 percent of those treated will develop an
addiction and abuse the drugs. Signs of addiction
Your mother may be addicted to opioids if she
can't stop herself from taking the drug, and her tol-
erance continues to go up. She may also be addicted
if she keeps using opioids without her doctor's
consent, even if it's causing her problems with her
health, money, family or friends.
If you think your mom's addicted, ask her to
see a doctor for an evaluation. Go to the family or
pre-scribing physician, or find a specialist through
the American Society of Addiction Medicine (see
ASAM.org) or the American Academy of Addiction
Psychiatry (AAAP.org). It's also important to he posi-
tive and encouraging. Addiction is a medical matter,
not a character flaw. Treatments
Treatment for opioid addiction is different for each
person, but the main goal is to help your mom stop
using the drug and avoid using it again in the future.
To help her stop using the drug, her doctor can
prescribe certain medicines to help relieve her with-
drawal symptoms and control her cravings. These
medicines include methadone (often used to treat
heroin addiction), buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
After detox, behavioral treatments such as indi-
vidual counseling, group or family counseling, and
cogni-tive therapy can help her learn how to manage
depression, avoid the drug, deal with cravings, and
heal damaged relationships.
For assistance, call the Substance Abuse and Men-
tal Health Services Administration confidential help
line at (800) 662-4357, or see SAMHSA.gov. They can
connect you with treatment services in your state
that can help your mom.
Also, if you find that your morn has a doctor who
prescribes opioids in excess or without legitimate
rea-son, you should report him or her to your state
medical board, which licenses physicians. For con-
tact information visit FSMB.org.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O.
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show.
AOG0ffF ECLIP&17
LETTERS FROM T
MMUNITY
Get a grip, people These "once in a lifetime" events Pretty simple. And what hap-
are really not. This all happened pened? Nothing.
back in '79, so if you were born So, calm down, folks. Beyond
The hot topic of the month shortly before that eclipse, your whatever man makes of this
seems to be all about the upcom- life span would only be 38 years upcoming event, the world will go
ing eclipse. To me it is just a until this one--not even average on turning.
time when the day will slowly go middle-age for this day and age. I All that being said--my optom-
dark for a few minutes and then feel very sorry for those who feel etrist was very adamant about
slowly go back to the norm. I lived that this is the most exciting thing the danger of looking bare-eyed
through the last one and plan-- to happen in their life time. (or even with sun-glasses) during
God willing--to live past this one. I remember when the talk was this time. He told me that to do so
I'm one of the few who take most how the world would come crash- will make irreparable damage,
things without getting all dis- ing down around us when the causing blindness to the center of
combobulated with what I have clock struck midnight escorting the eye. And, in my opinion, any
no control over. Just go with the in the new millennium. "All com- reputable optometrist will give the
flow, folks, puters are going to crash--every- safe glasses free to their patients.
Every day we have something thing will shut down and there
happen that will never happen will be a worldwide gridlock on Mildred E. Lykens
again. This minutel hour, day, all communications!" Really? I Lyle
month, year--all come and go and determined: "Man made comput-
no one makes a big deal over it. ers, so man can fix comput-ers."
Z Lo146T01A kttTPO
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