65+ and Lonely? Don’t Talk to Your Doctor About Another Prescription

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Original post: Newswise - Substance Abuse 65+ and Lonely? Don't Talk to Your Doctor About Another Prescription

Lonely, older adults are nearly twice as likely to use opioids to ease pain and two-and-a-half times more likely to use sedatives and anti-anxiety medications, putting themselves at risk for drug dependency, impaired attention, falls and other accidents, and further cognitive impairment, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.