Boomer Addiction

People over the age of 50 have been entering drug treatment programs in greater numbers.

In 1992, the 50-plus demographic accounted for 6.6 percent of all admissions. The most recent statistics available report that this group now accounts for 12.2 percent of all treatment admissions, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Peggy W. is one of those admissions. She is 58 years old, and in rehab for the first time.

Peggy said she was “a real mess” when she entered Tarzana Treatment Center four months ago. She hit bottom last fall.

“I was in a total black out from the sixth of October to the 17th. They did a blood alcohol on me it was .43. I should have been dead then,” Peggy said.

To hear more of Peggy's story, click here.

Peggy said she was a functioning addict for 44 years. Her abuse included drinking vodka in the morning and then working at a bar where she had access to even more alcohol. She also abused prescription pills and narcotics.

Despite the toll this was taking on her health, she managed to work as a dispatcher, raise six children and go back to school to get a paralegal certificate. She remembered doing homework at her computer, while smoking meth.

Alcohol is still the most popular drug of choice for boomers in rehab but there has been a dangerous spike with illegal and street drugs.

The number of adults in rehab claiming heroin as their primary drug has doubled in recent years, from 7.2 percent to 16 percent. The numbers from cocaine as a primary drug have more than quadrupled from 2.8 percent to over 11.4 percent.

Then there is the abundant world of prescription drugs.

Peggy said that after drinking in the morning, she would take: norcos; Vicodin; Ativan; Ambien and Xanax. All these pills she received through doctors.

Because aging comes with legitimate aches and pains, there is a greater availability of potentially addictive pain and anxiety meds. Stan Galperson runs the residential and out- patient programs at Tarzana Treatment Center.

He said doctors are quick to prescribe pain and anxiety medications.

“People find comfort in them. Then they are off and running,” Galperson said. “They abuse them develop a dependency and end up at our front door.”

Part of the challenge for the over-50 crowd is lifestyle. At this point, if they are nearing retirement they have some money, more time and less structure.

“You don’t have the consequences anymore that they boss may notice that you are under the influence –your work performance may suffer,” Galperson said. “If you don’t have those anymore it is quite easy to let your addiction progress.”

Peggy said she was an addict for decades but her drug use accelerated when she was no longer working.

“I have been a functioning addict alcoholic all my whole life, so when i didn’t have anything to do, you know, I don’t know it’s crazy,” Peggy said.

When kids leave home, many moms and dads feel lost and have to redefine who they are.

Galperson said that can make people vulnerable.

“That can challenge a person and shake their whole world up – to where substance use becomes an alternative to deal with that whole changing identity,” he said.

Experts predict the number of 50-plus addicts could double in the next eight years.

The stakes are high – but there is hope.

“Recovery is possible no matter how old you are,” Galperson said "It’s never too late.”

As for Peggy, she is four months into her recovery. She said she is grateful for her family, stronger because of this program, and happy to take back her life.

“I’m proud of who I’ve become,” Peggy said. “I looked at myself in the mirror today and I saw a different person.”

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