Gwen Delger, M.A., LADC, Fountain Centers, will present “Addiction and Despair versus Recovery and Freedom in an Aging Society” at a symposium in Yakima, Wash., Thursday.

Delger will share her knowledge of how the older society, primarily those 50 years of age and older, use addictive substances for a variety of reasons. She will discuss the lack of interest in investing in treating substance abuse and addiction problems in this population, including the misuse of prescription drugs.

“Specific treatment for the older adult set is almost non-existent and has been identified as a needed subset of treatment as this population is growing,” Delger said. “If we throw away our older adults, we throw away our past, if we throw away our past, we have no future.”

Delger has spent the past 17 years working with older adults and addiction at Fountain Centers. For more information on Fountain Centers visit fountaincenters.org.