Understanding Addiction in Older Adults
Many people are surprised to learn how common it is for older adults to struggle with alcohol, medications, or compulsive behaviours like gambling or shopping. These challenges often begin as a way to ‘feel better about things’’relax or de-stress’ or ‘pass the time’— but over time they can cause more harm than help. Families sometimes notice changes too, such as secretive behaviour, money worries, falls, or mood swings.
Why Older Adults Can Be Vulnerable
As we get older, certain life changes can make it easier to develop problems with substance misuse or compulsive habits. These include ongoing pain, long-term health conditions, memory or thinking changes, loss of loved ones, feeling lonely, having fewer social connections, money worries, or big life changes like moving into care. Our bodies also process substances differently with age, so even smaller amounts can have a bigger impact.
If problems with alcohol, medications, or other habits go unnoticed, they can make everyday life harder — causing falls, dangerous medication interactions, trips to hospital, memory or thinking difficulties, financial problems, worsening other health conditions, and causing stress for you and your family.
Am I Concerned About My Use?
If you’re wondering whether your drinking, medication use, or behaviours like gambling, shopping or internet use may be becoming a problem, these questions may help:
Do I find myself using alcohol, medication, or other substances more often than I used to?
Have I needed larger amounts to feel the same effect?
Do I use alcohol, medication, or shopping/gambling/internet as a way to cope with stress, sadness, pain, or loneliness?
Have friends, family, or carers expressed concern about my drinking, medication, spending, etc?
Have I missed activities, appointments, or social events because of my use?
Has my use affected my sleep, memory, balance, or physical health?
Have I felt guilty, ashamed, or secretive about how much I’m using or spending?
Have I tried to cut down but found it difficult?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, it may be a sign that your use is becoming problematic.
Getting Help
The good news is that treatment is effective, and research shows older adults often achieve some of the best and most lasting recovery outcomes, when treatment is tailored regaining control, improving health and wellbeing, and rebuilding connection.