Addiction Rates Among Retired Individuals

Let’s be honest about what retirement looks like in 2026. We’re told it’s supposed to be this long-awaited reward, but for a lot of people in Agoura Hills, it feels more like falling off a cliff. At Comfort Recovery Center, we’ve started seeing a real spike in Addiction Rates Among Retired Individuals. It is not because people want to party—it’s because they’re bored, lonely, or hurting. When you go from a 50-hour work week to staring at a quiet house, that mid-day glass of wine or an extra “nerve pill” starts to feel like the only way to give the day structure.

The Psychological Impact of Retirement

The scary part is how fast this transition happens. An older body simply doesn’t bounce back like a twenty-year-old’s does. We see many retirees who think they’re just “managing their back pain” or “getting a better night’s sleep,” but before they know it, they’re physically dependent. This isn’t just a young person’s crisis anymore. In fact, the Addiction Rates Among Retired Individuals are climbing because the transition into this phase of life is one of the biggest psychological shocks a person can go through.

According to recent reports from the American Psychological Association, nearly 1 in 11 adults over the age of 60 now struggle with a substance use disorder. In our Agoura Hills community, the pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle can make it even harder to admit when a “relaxing drink” has turned into a chemical dependency.

Alcohol and Prescription Drug Trends

When we look at the data behind Addiction Rates Among Retired Individuals, two categories stand out: alcohol and prescription medications. Alcohol is frequently used to mask the grief of losing a spouse or the loss of a professional identity. Meanwhile, prescription misuse often stems from legitimate pain management that slowly spirals out of control. Because many seniors are on multiple medications, the risk of dangerous drug interactions is higher than in any other demographic in 2026.