Depressant medication use by older persons in the broader social context relating to use of psychoactive substances

Although use of depressant medications is associated with a number of risks for older people (e.g. drug-drug and alcohol-drug interactions, dependence, falls), very little is known about the factors that lead to use of depressant medications, especially use of benzodiazepines. Physicians clearly play a role in prescribing these drugs, but there are likely to be other influences on use patterns, such as the social context that defines the appropriateness of use, the types of symptoms defined as needing depressant medications, and so on. The social context of use of depressant medications was examined using survey data from 826 persons aged 65 years and older. About 30% of respondents were using depressant medications, with most use to alleviate sleeplessness, stress or pain, and most regular users reporting considerable psychological dependence on continued use (especially for use of tranquillizing drugs). Overall, respondents who used depressant medications consumed about the same amount of alcohol as non-users and considerably more prescription drugs. This suggests that depressant medication users are at risk of alcohol-drug and drug-drug interactions and that alternatives to use of depressant drugs should be sought where possible. Use of depressant medications was positively related to use by spouse, other family and friends, suggesting that the use of depressant medications may well be influenced by the social context that frames use.