Older Australians treated for heroin addiction

The number of Australians receiving treatment for dependence on opioids such as heroin is on the rise and the proportion of older clients is also increasing.

According to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, the analysis found there were more than 46,000 clients who received pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence last year.

Amber Jefferson of the AIHW’s Drug Surveys and Services Unit, said there was an increase of just more than 2,600 clients between 2009 and 2010, which is consistent with the growth of pharmacotherapy treatment seen in recent years.

“Since 2006, there has been a shift towards older clients receiving treatment, with the proportion of clients aged 30 years and over rising from 72% to 82%, and the proportion of clients under 30 years of age has fallen,” Ms Jefferson said.

Meanwhile, a UK report recommended everyone over the age of 65 be screened for drug and alcohol misuse by their GP to help treat a growing generation of “invisible addicts”. 

The recent UK report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists also called for tougher safe drinking limits for the elderly and greater efforts to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.

The group of psychiatrists described the rising problem of alcohol and drugs misuse among older people as unacknowledged and a serious threat to public health.

The report, Our Invisible Addicts, stated the current advice on drinking is based on the effect of alcohol on younger age groups and should be tightened for the over-65s.  

It indicated evidence supported an upper safe limit for older men of 1.5 units of alcohol a day – equivalent to a small glass of wine, a single measure of spirits or a pint of weak beer – rather than the current guidelines for men of not drinking more than three to four units daily.

For women over 65 years of age, the limits should be lowered from not regularly drinking more than two to three units a day to perhaps just one unit a day. 

The report also stated while illegal drug use was not common among the over-65s, increasing drug use in the 40-something age group meant it would become a serious issue.

A third of those with drink problems develop them in later life, often as a result of changes such as retirement or bereavement, or feelings of boredom, loneliness and depression, the report stated. Misuse of prescribed medicines is also common.

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