Addiction, mental health and dual pathology in geriatrics
Addiction, mental health and dual pathology in geriatrics

Summary/Abstract: The mental pathology is not “trending topic” in any forum, prejudices, clichés and destitution by society, forge this a very murky issue, as scientific evidence about it. If addiction is added and the pose in geriatric patients had a total “TABU” Substance abuse at age 50, will be extended to geriatric ages, a tsunami is approaching. Only in the United States and Canada it is estimated that 2.8million over 50years with addiction and that by 2020 will be about 5.7million.1 These figures are opaque. Experts talk about this problem is underestimated. If it is clear that these 2.8million that have not yet reached retirement age, pass shortly geriatric ages and there is the problem of tackling complex. What forced this situation? A demand for services involving detoxification and very probably psychic and active therapy and intensive monitoring of these patients, a reality, coupled to a portion of those suffering from dual pathology (addiction + mental illness). Those public systems can not address this problem and are private insurance, who must consider the situation in planning their “healthcare management in geriatrics”. Definitely these needs, involves changes in the coverage of health insurance policies, and increased staff and center for these patients in the acute phase and monitoring of chronically with extremely high costs. So determine where we stand currently allow, guide management strategies in such a situation.

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