What Can I Do If I Suspect My Dad Is Addicted to Prescription Medication?

Question: What should I do if I suspect my elderly father is addicted to prescription pain medication?

Answer: Addressing potential addiction in elderly family members, especially concerning prescription pain medication, requires careful consideration. Here’s how you can approach the situation:

Understanding the Difference: Addiction vs. Physiologic Dependence

First, it's essential to distinguish between addiction and physiologic dependence. Many elderly patients might appear to be "addicted" to their medication because their medical condition necessitates consistent, aggressive treatment. For example, patients with terminal illnesses or chronic pain conditions may rely heavily on pain medication for relief. In such cases, their dependence on the medication is a necessary part of their treatment plan, not an addiction.

Evaluating Your Father’s Medical Condition

Your father's specific medical condition, the medications he is using, and their side effects should be thoroughly discussed with his physician. Some healthcare providers might be hesitant to prescribe necessary medications due to concerns about addiction, especially if they do not fully understand the patient’s condition. Here are steps you can take:

1. Consult with His Doctor: Schedule an appointment to discuss your father's pain management plan. Ask about the necessity of his current medication, potential alternatives, and the possibility of transitioning to other treatments.

2. Pain Management Evaluation: New standards require healthcare providers to evaluate pain control rigorously, similar to other vital signs. Using pain rating scales can help get a consistent evaluation and support better pain management.

3. Explore Alternatives: Inquire about other medications or therapies that could be effective in managing your father's pain. Sometimes, patients remain on older, potentially addictive medications because they were the only options available years ago.

Seeking Specialist Advice

If the current pain management strategy seems inadequate or overly reliant on addictive medications, consider consulting a pain management specialist. Ensure that the specialist has extensive experience with older patients, as geriatric pain management requires a nuanced approach.

Taking Action

If you genuinely suspect your father is addicted to his medication, take the following steps:

• Discuss Your Concerns: Have an open and honest conversation with your father’s physician about your concerns.

• Develop a Transition Plan: Work with healthcare providers to develop a plan for transitioning to different medications or treatments, if necessary.

• Monitor and Support: Keep track of your father’s medication use and support him in any changes to his treatment plan.

When to Take Control

Ultimately, medication management is a decision between your father and his prescriber. However, if you are legally empowered to make medical decisions on his behalf, you may need to take a more active role in managing his care.

Contact AmoryCare

For assistance and further support, contact AmoryCare:

• Phone: 908-854-3220

• Fax: 908-854-3221

• Email: info@amorycare.com

Service Areas

AmoryCare serves several counties in New Jersey, including Union, Morris, Essex, Bergen, and Passaic counties. Specific service areas include:

• Union County, NJ: Berkeley Heights, Summit, Linden, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Murray Hill, Plainfield, Mountainside, Garwood, Clark, New Providence, Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Winfield, Kenilworth, Vauxhall, Cranford, Springfield, Union, Fanwood, Rahway.

• Morris County, NJ: Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Budd Lake, Butler, Califon, Cedar Knolls, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Far Hills, Flanders, Florham Park, Gillette, Greenvillage, Hibernia, Ironia, Kenvil, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Ledgewood, Lincoln Park, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Millington, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mt. Arlington, Mt. Freedom, Mt. Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, New Vernon, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Picatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Schooley’s Mountain, Stirling, Succasunna, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany.

• Essex County, NJ: Livingston, Roseland, Essex Fells, West Orange, South Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, West Caldwell, Fairfield, Irvington, Newark, East Orange.

• Bergen County, NJ: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack (county seat), Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Wyckoff.

• Passaic County, NJ: Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park.

Understanding and addressing potential addiction in elderly family members is complex but manageable with the right approach and professional support.