About This Program
Addiction among older adults is one of the most underrecognized and undertreated public health issues in the United States. Adults over the age of 60 face a convergence of factors that make them uniquely vulnerable to substance use disorders, including chronic pain requiring prescription medications, the loss of spouses and friends, retirement-related loss of purpose and identity, increasing isolation, and the physiological changes of aging that alter how the body processes substances. At Trust SoCal, our JCAHO-accredited treatment center in Fountain Valley, California, we provide addiction treatment specifically adapted for the medical, psychological, and social needs of older adults.
Late-onset addiction is a pattern that affects many seniors who had no history of substance problems earlier in life. A hip replacement leads to an opioid prescription that becomes a dependence. Retirement brings evenings that stretch endlessly, and wine fills the hours. A spouse dies, and benzodiazepines prescribed for grief become impossible to stop. These are not stories of reckless behavior but of vulnerable human beings encountering potent substances during some of the most difficult transitions of their lives. Our clinical team approaches senior addiction with the compassion and respect it deserves.
The aging body processes substances differently. Decreased liver and kidney function, reduced body water content, changes in body composition, and interactions with multiple prescription medications all mean that quantities of alcohol or drugs that might be manageable for a younger person can be dangerous or even fatal for an older adult. Falls, cognitive impairment, medication interactions, and cardiovascular events are all elevated risks. Our medical team has specific expertise in geriatric pharmacology and carefully manages detox and medication-assisted treatment with these physiological realities in mind.
Social isolation is both a major driver and a devastating consequence of senior addiction. Retirement removes the daily structure and social connection of the workplace. Mobility limitations restrict activities. Friends and family members die. These losses accumulate, and substances become companionship for the lonely and relief for the grieving. Trust SoCal's senior program addresses isolation directly, rebuilding social connections and helping older adults find renewed purpose and community in recovery. If you or a loved one over 60 is struggling with addiction, call Trust SoCal today at (949) 280-8360 to speak with our admissions team at our Fountain Valley facility.
