SAMHSA finds retirement living doesn't rule out marijuana use

According to McKnights.com, there has been a rise in illicit use of prescription medications among senior citizens that might lead to an increased need for drug treatment programs in the coming years.


Between 2006 and 2008, a total of 33.4 percent of adults over the age of 50 used prescription drugs for a non-medical use, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found.


Most people don't consider retirement living communities to be a site of illegal activity, but last year8.5 percent of men and 3.9 percent of women between the ages of 50 and 54 used marijuana.

SAMHSA states that because the baby boomer generation has a history of recreational drug use, the number of retirement living seniors who turn to drugs like marijuana might continue to rise.


After the study, SAMHSA concluded that reducing and treating drug abuse among retirement-age seniors will require the cooperation of medical and behavioral health services, and that healthcare providers should monitor their patients for signs of substance abuse.



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