Data collected by researchers from the University of California , San Francisco shows that the lonelier older adults are, the more likely they will use prescription painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and powerful opioids.
The study surveyed six thousand seniors who lived independently, with 53% considering themselves not lonely, 40% were moderately lonely and 7% were highly lonely. The researchers noticed a positive correlation between the level of loneliness and the use of prescription drugs such as Valium, Xanax, BuSpar and Ambien.
"Loneliness was associated with higher pain medication use, including use of opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and more than twice the frequency of use of antidepressants, sleep medications, and benzodiazepines," the study explained. |