Answers/ Research

1. What is the suicide rate for old people?

"The highest suicide rates of any age group occur among persons aged 65 years and older. There is an average of one suicide among the elderly every 90 minutes. In 1998, suicide ranked as the sixteenth leading cause of death among those aged 65 years and older and accounted for 5803 deaths among this age group in the U.S." (Gothelf)

(http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/44637.htm)

2. How many old people are abusing substances to feel better?
Interesting info. related to questions : "Although alcohol and substance abuse is statistically at epidemic proportions among the elderly, it remains for the most part unreported, undiagnosed, or ignored." (T. 1)

"The reasons that substance abuse by our senior citizens goes undetected are varied, but most have to do with the fact they are no longer active in mainstream society and there is simply no one around to notice.

They are less likely to get in trouble with the law -- stopped for driving under the influence, having a traffic accident, or causing problems in the community. Therefore they have little contact with the police or the criminal justice system. Since many are retired, there is very little chance their drinking will cause them to lose a job or career." ( T. 1)

(http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/elder/a/aa981118.htm)

"Incorrectly following the instructions on the medication bottle, mixing medications, forgetting to take medicines, and an inhibition to ask for assistance are all common attributes amongst elderly people that contribute to the abuse of prescription medications." (Meyer 1)

"Prescription drug abuse is present in 12% to 15% of elderly individuals who seek medical attention. " (Meyer 1)