According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, older Americans comprise about 13% of the U.S. population, but account for approximately one-third of all medications prescribed. At the same time, patients may see multiple doctors and have multiple caregivers who may not be aware of all the medications a single person has been prescribed. This situation contributes to an increased risk for the abuse or unintentional misuse of prescribed pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications. In addition, younger family members may have access to medicines that should be kept secure.
Speaking to the complications of drug misuse in older Americans, Nora D. Volkow, M.D. Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services stated in a testimony to the House of Representatives: “Elderly persons who take benzodiazepines such as Valium, Librium, and Xanax are at increased risk for cognitive impairment, leading to possible falls as well as vehicular accidents. Moreover, not all physicians know that prescribing benzodiazepines to elderly people is contraindicated for these reasons. Therefore, physician education is a necessary part of any effort to curb the abuse of prescription medications.”
Substance abuse in the aging and elderly population may look different than it does in younger populations, but it is no less serious as Dr. Volkow’s comments indicate.
The need for substance abuse professionals with special training in aging populations is increasing as a result of mismanaging medications, redundant prescriptions and intentional or accidental abuse of medications. For healthcare professionals, this means a 27% increase in the need for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors to meet growing demands across many sectors of the population. Along with the increase in job opportunities over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that this field can be entered with a high school diploma and additional training.
For increased job growth and full credentialing, however, advanced substance abuse counselors will need a bachelor’s or master’s degree as well as 2,000 to 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Passing a state-recognized exam and participating in on-going continuing education courses is a must to remain competitive for top jobs in the field. States will vary on their particular requirement guidelines which can be found at: National Board for Certified Counselors and Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Salaries will also vary due to factors such as education level, years of experience and geographic location. The BLS reports that substance abuse and behavior disorder counselors annual salary earnings range from the mid $30,000’s to over $45, 000.
Working with specific populations such as the elderly will typically require specialized training and additional supervised experiences. Many healthcare degrees, such as the BSN or MSN nursing degrees, provide a strong foundation for work with patients working on making permanent health changes in their lives. While clinical hours need to be completed through face-to-face experiences, many reputable online programs exist for students to gain the knowledge needed to build a career in this area. The flexibility of online learning allows career changers and healthcare professionals in one area grow new knowledge while remaining employed in their current job.
