Baby Boomers Still Using Illegal Drugs

[vivfox]

By Emily Brandon

Posted: August 20, 2009

Some baby boomers are continuing to use illicit drugs as they grow older. The number of 50-somethings who say they took drugs within the past year has nearly doubled from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.4 percent in 2007, according to a new analysis by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Among all other age groups the rates of drug use stayed the same or decreased. Over the same time period marijuana use among Americans age 50 to 59 increased from 3.1 to 5.7 percent and nonmedical utilization of prescription drugs climbed to 4 percent in 2007 from 2.2 percent in 2002.

“These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age,” says SAMHSA acting administrator Eric Broderick. SAMHSA found that the increase in drug use was driven primarily by the aging of the baby boomers, who have had higher rates of drug use than earlier generations throughout their lifetime. Approximately 90 percent of the baby boomer drug users initiated their drug use before age 30. Less than 3 percent of baby boomers who used drugs in the past year began using between the ages of 50 and 59.

SAMHS cautions that drugs can have more severe affects on the body as you age. Older adults have a slower metabolism and lower body water content, which means the drug can remain in their system longer. Baby boomers can generally feel the effects of a drug with less use and cannot use as much as they used to. Prescription and over-the-counter medications commonly used by older adults could also interact adversely with illegal drugs.

While the majority of baby boomers who have ever sampled drugs aren’t still regular users, some continue to light up as they approach retirement. About 14 percent of Americans age 50 to 59 who have ever tried drugs, took them in the past year.

http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/pl...gal-drugs.html

[jaycee]

Well, as long as it's a private affair, I have no qualms with people taking illegal drugs. It's up to you how you want to damage your own body and mind, as far as I'm concerned! It's only when it starts to interfere with how you treat other people that it's a cause for concern... but that responsibility is still that of the person using drugs - they should know better than to do that if it's interfering with their social life and/or work! (Just like I should know better than to skulk these forums instead of doing study! Luckily I'm on break now though...)

[sara1998]

As kids, we had our suspicions about my dearest friends' step father smoking pot, and those suspicions were proved right within the past couple years. He comes over to my friends house, watches the game, and smokes with my friends fiancee. Cracks me up. He's 60 something...

[louielouie2000]

This certainly isn't news to me. My parents and all their friends still smoke pot like there's no tomorrow... and they're all in their mid 50s-mid 60s.

[EnchantedKiwi]

Originally Posted by jaycee

Well, as long as it's a private affair, I have no qualms with people taking illegal drugs. It's up to you how you want to damage your own body and mind, as far as I'm concerned! It's only when it starts to interfere with how you treat other people that it's a cause for concern... but that responsibility is still that of the person using drugs - they should know better than to do that if it's interfering with their social life and/or work! (Just like I should know better than to skulk these forums instead of doing study! Luckily I'm on break now though...)

It annoys me when people say it's their problem cause it's my taxes that are paying for these peoples health care.
Maybe it's different in the U.S, I have no idea what your system is like, but its all taxpayer funded in NZ.


Edit: Just realised your from Australia lol, but still!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by EnchantedKiwi

It annoys me when people say it's their problem cause it's my taxes that are paying for these peoples health care.
Maybe it's different in the U.S, I have no idea what your system is like, but its all taxpayer funded in NZ.


Edit: Just realised your from Australia lol, but still!

I thought NZ had a private insurance system and that only catastrophic illness was covered by a national plan.

I shudder at the thought of some octagenarian speeding down the highway while lit up like a Christmas tree. In fact, I shudder at the thought of octagenarians, period. But adding psychotropics to the mix takes it to another level.

[EnchantedKiwi]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I thought NZ had a private insurance system and that only catastrophic illness was covered by a national plan.

No public, its your choice to go private though if you think you need it, but I think ours is pretty good anyway.