Substance Abuse Problem Grows Among Older Americans

Substance abuse rates among teen-agers and young adults get a lot of attention, but a new study finds that there is a growing problem among their parents' and grandparents' generations.

More than 4.3 million people over 50 took an illegal drug over the past year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Marijuana use was the most common for men although the use of marijuana among women was tied in popularity with the misuse of prescription drugs.

SAMHSA predicts that the amount of people over 50 seeking treatment for substance abuse will double in the next 10 years, said a story on CBSNews.com.

Meanwhile, the first of a three-part series in The Register-Herald of Beckley, WV, talks about how to cure addictive behaviors like substance abuse and gambling. The first part is here.