More Treatment Facilities Needed

The Boston Globe reports that illicit drug use among baby boomers is on the rise.

About 8% of Americans ages 50-59 have taken an illicit drug in the past year, most often marijuana but also including painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications. That's up 50% in the past eight years.

"We are projecting that by the year 2020, we will probably have enough people in the 50-to-59 age group needing treatment that we will probably need to double the number of treatment facilities," said Peter Delany, director of the Office of Applied Studies at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.