Health & Wellness

Boomer Edition | 10th Annual | 2014

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"You need to meet them where they are and let them talk openly." big deal, and those beliefs carry over into their views of prescription drugs as well, says Linda Martin, a licensed professional counselor with the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network. Martin cited a study by the National Institutes of Health that found people born between 1946 and 1964 were more than twice as likely to have substanceabuse issues than any previous generation. Moreover, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the number of older adults treated for substance abuse went up by 32 percent between 1995 and 2002, with opiate (painkiller) abuse leading the way. But it's never too late to quit, Martin says. According to the American Lung Association, a man who quits smoking at 65 adds one or two years to his life and a woman adds two to four years. Moreover, the ALA says people start getting healthier and feeling better almost immediately, regardless of how old they are when they quit smoking. Yet overcoming long-held bad habits isn't easy, Martin says, and those with peers who are hooked can help. "You need to meet them where they are and let them talk openly. It doesn't help to demand that they quit," Martin says. Talking with someone may also alleviate one of the causes of substance abuse, she said, which is a feeling of isolation, of not having a strong community. For substance-abuse help for you or a loved one, visit: www.admhn.org or call 303-730-8858. Health & Wellness Magazine • 75

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