Drug Usage and Health Characteristics in Noninstitutional Retired Persons*

Abstract

A study was made of total drug usage (prescription, over-the-counter, social), health characteristics, and life satisfaction in 55 noninstitutional retired men and women whose average age was 70 years. The sample was purposively selected on the basis of involvement in peer group interaction networks. Among those using drugs, the average number taken per person was 2.0 prescription, 1.8 over-the-counter, and 1.8 social (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine), for a total of 5.6 drugs. For men the average was 7.5, and for women 4.7 drugs. Although drug interaction hazards from prescription drugs alone appeared to be minimal, examination of total drug usage indicated potential interactive hazards. Despite the number of chronic illnesses and physical impairments (5 and 1 per person respectively) and the number of drugs ingested, the respondents usually expressed overall satisfaction with their life condition. A commonly expressed dissatisfaction (males 75 percent, females 35 percent) was with government officials. Respondents had confidence in both their physicians' diagnoses and the effectiveness of the drugs prescribed. The findings that women reported more chronic diseases and physical impairments, and were relatively more dissatisfied with their life condition than were men, may be associated with their greater acquiescence with self-disclosure.

Evaluation of Psychotropic Drug Consumption Related to Psychological Distress in the Elderly: Hospitalized vs. Nonhospitalized

“…It seems interesting to point out that the distribution of diseases was also different in the two groups. In the group of nH chronic diseases predominated, in agreement with that reported by Vener et al [14] for a nH retired population in the USA, while the H population predominantly pre sented diseases with an acute onset, a characteristic which could account for their hospitalization.…”

“…nH showed a drugs/subject relation of 1,82, like pre vious reports with samples of similar characteristics [14,15]. However, this index increases with the group H (3.32) reaching a value of 4.01 in subjects taking psycho tropic drugs.…”

Alcoholism in the Geriatric Population

“…Ethanol interacts with more than 150 commonly prescribed drugs 34 . Drug—ethanol interactions vary, depending upon the casual or chronic nature of the person's alcohol consumption.…”

The Social Contexts of Aging and Drug Use: Theoretical and Methodological Insights

“…This explanation is supported by recent surveys which have consistently established that a t least two-thirds of the elderly regularly consume prescription drugs, that they obtain these drugs legally with a physician's prescription, that the elderly do not report high overdose or side effect problems and that those who do report them consult a medical doctor. The studies also reveal that the elderly consume almos't no illicit drugs (Hale, Marks & Steward 1979;Vener, Krupka & Climo 1979;Chien, Townsend & Townsend 1978;Guttmann 1977). …”

“…This cohort currently defines the use of drugs prescribed by a physician, including psychoactives, as quite proper. Less than 50 percent of them claim regular intake of alcohol (Vener, Krupka & Climo 1979;Chien, Townsend 8c Townsend 1978;Guttmann 1977) and tobacco use is cited by about 25 percent (Vener, Krupka & Climo 1979;Chien, Townsend & Townsend 1978).…”