Between 1992 and 2008, the number of Americans aged 50 and older who were admitted to drug treatment facilities nearly doubled, according to new research.

While the drug of choice for this age group is typically alcohol, the study indicated sharp increases in the number of people seeking treatment from heroin, cocaine, and marijuana abuse.

Some of those admitted had only begun using; however, 75% of them started before the age of 25.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which conducted the study, broke down the statistics as follows: 

-Heroin abuse more than doubled

-Cocaine abuse nearly quadrupled

-Marijuana abuse increased from .6 percent to 2.9 percent

Pamela S. Hyde, administrator of the agency, noted that programs that offer services to seniors need to pay heed to the “graying of drug users” to be better able to serve their needs.

This current research seems to underscore a study conducted by Duke University researchers that found that alcohol use and binge drinking are likely to increase in middle aged and older Americans in the next few years.

The study, which was conducted in 2009, revealed that 23% of men and 9% of women between the ages of 50 and 64 admitted to binge drinking.  The Duke researchers concluded that health care professionals should ask specific questions about binge drinking, because it’s often overlooked during initial screenings. 

In a news release, Dan G. Blazer, MD, Phd stated:  “We feel that our findings are important to the public health of middle-aged and elderly persons as they point to a potentially unrecognized problem that often ‘flies beneath’ the typical screen for alcohol problems in psychiatry practices.  Clinicians who work with this age group would be well advised to ask specifically about binge drinking.”

Additionally, some symptoms of alcohol abuse, such as high blood pressure, could be alleviated by eliminating alcohol, instead of taking prescription medication.