Middle-Aged Women and Prescription Drug Overdoses: A Spike in an Unlikely Demographic
This month Trust for America’s Health released a report that showed deaths involving prescription drug overdoses has quadrupled in the past decade. More people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined. And in 29 states, more people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than from automobile accidents. This incredible spike primarily involves prescription drug painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Darvocet, Lortab, Lorcet, Methadone, Opana, and oxymorphone. And the problem is only getting worse.
But what is even more surprising is the demographic that we are seeing the largest spike in prescription drug overdoses: middle-aged women (aged 45-54), particularly painkillers. When one thinks of the typical demographic of dying drug abusers, it’s not middle-aged women: mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. And yet these numbers are rapidly rising.
Cocaine and heroin use among men was typically the cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. for decades. But in the past couple of years, middle-aged women and prescription painkillers, accounted for nearly forty percent of the deaths. Much of this can be attributed to the overall rise in death caused prescription drug overdoses, but deaths involving women have risen much faster than those involving men.
According to the CDC, “Women may be more prone to overdoses because they’re more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed painkillers, have higher doses, and use them longer than men.” And they may be more likely to “doctor shop” (visit multiple doctors for the same prescription of painkillers).
Medicinenet has a great list of warning signs of prescription drug abuse:
- Increased usage of prescription drug.
- Marked change in personality or normal behavior.
- Withdrawing from social events with family and friends.
- Continued use of prescription drug after initial medical condition has improved.
- Preoccupation or time spent on obtaining prescription drug.
- Notice a change in daily habits or appearance, such as eating, sleeping or personal hygiene.
- Neglects responsibilities.
- Increased sensitivity to sights, sounds or emotions. The abuser might be overstimulated more easily than before.
- A pattern of blackouts or forgetfulness becomes regular.
- Defensiveness over prescription drug use may also be a sign that there is a problem.
