Program to aid senior addicts
BY MICHELLE L. START Florida Weekly Correspondent

Poor eyesight, confusion and addiction may be driving seniors to serious health problems, but officials at Southwest Florida Addiction Services are hoping that a new program will help. They received a $450,000 grant from the Florida Department of Children and Families substance abuse program to help identify and treat seniors.

"We're starting a program that is aimed at helping adults 60 and older," said Sheree Beau-Wells, prevention director at SWFAS. "The need is there. We're coming at it from a series of different avenues. It's not just going out and asking older adults if they have a substance abuse problem because many of them don't believe they have a problem."

SWFAS is working with the local hospitals, social workers and the emergency rooms to screen people who might be having problems associated with substance abuse. They will be offering outpatient services to those who are identified to need it. Part of the program also entails following up with the patients that complete the program.

"We're trying to establish a relationship with the medical staff," Beau-Wells said. "People coming in often have injuries, falls, constant complaints and conditions that could be related to substance abuse."

In 2002, a study by the Lee County Health Department showed that 22 percent of those over the age of 65 were considered to be in bad health.

"Abuse of prescription drugs can lead to addiction, misdiagnosis of serious illness, life-threatening circumstances and even death," said Charles Curie, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Beau-Wells said some of the problems could be alleviated if they were to reduce alcohol intake or take the correct medication in the correct amount.

"If they have bad eyesight, it may just be that they are taking the yellow pill when they should take the white pill," she said.

The program is set to launch on Oct. 29 in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry counties.