Brussels, 15/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Drug problems have no age limits, according to a report published early April by the EU Drugs Agency (EMCDDA). According to the study, the number of older adults affected by drug-related problems is expected to double between 2001 and 2020. In Europe, the percentage of patients aged 40 and over in treatment for opiate problems more than doubled between 2002 and 2005 (from 8.6% to 17.6%). According to Wolfgang Götz, EMCDDA Director, the increasing number of older adults with substance use problems will place new and greater demands on treatment services, forcing them to adapt programmes accustomed to dealing with young populations to meet the needs of the older group. Concerns outlined also include the problem use by older adults of prescribed or over-the-counter medicines. “The over-65s consume around one third of all prescribed drugs in Europe (…). Older women are at a higher risk of prescription drug misuse than other groups, yet their problems often go undetected”; the report indicates. Combined use of alcohol and other drugs can cause problems also. In Europe, 27% of persons over the age of 55 admit to consuming alcohol on a daily basis. Troubles related to substance consumption by older persons often goes undetected or are misdiagnosed by health professionals, mainly due to a lack of information. The report also recommends the introduction of improved screening procedures for detecting substance use, especially the misuse of medication, among older persons. (B.C.)