The Counseling Process Practice Test

The key idea is that older adults are especially vulnerable to the effects of sedating medications and that misuse or overuse is a real safety and health concern. As people age, body systems change: metabolism slows, organ function may be reduced, and the brain becomes more sensitive to depressants. This means the same dose can produce stronger, longer-lasting sedation, cognitive slowing, and balance problems. When sedatives are used chronically or inappropriately, the risk of unwanted outcomes rises sharply—falls, delirium, confusion, and interactions with other medicines can occur. Because of these risks and the possibility of dependence or withdrawal with long-term use, overuse of sedating medications in the elderly is widely recognized as a major substance abuse concern.