Identifying Prescription Drug Abuse among the Elderly Population with the Use of a National Data Set

Abstract

Secondary data from the National Drug Use and Health database was used to measure prescription drug abuse among the elderly. The age range included those 65 or older. Male and female participants were included yeilding 1935 total participants. Findings indicated that participants with a need for substance abuse treatment, but not receiving treatment were more likely to abuse prescription drugs. All other findings were not significant. More research targeting the elderly is needed in order to gain an understanding of the effects of prescription drug abuse on elderly adults.