RICHMOND —Agricultural life presents unique pressures that may result in silent suffering among older farmers. Stigmas surrounding behavioral health and a lack of access to resources can exacerbate substance abuse issues, including high-risk drinking.

A recent AgriSafe webinar called “Navigating Rural Realities: Addressing Substance Use and Aging in Agricultural Communities” explored how the intersection of substance use and aging poses complex problems.

Tina Christine Chasek, Ph.D., professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, said a farmer’s tie to the land goes deep. Genetic and anthropological evidence suggests that agricultural production has an inherited basis encoded into our genetic material—a construct known as the “agrarian imperative.”

Farming is “generationally important to the identity of the family,” she said. “But when something goes wrong, it creates a lot of stress and tension, and (it’s) a hit to your mental wellness.”

Agricultural producers face many unique challenges—government commodity prices and policies, extreme weather events, animal and crop diseases, financial insecurity, chronic injuries, hard physical labor and long hours.

Farm women experience similar pressures, Chasek said, plus caregiving and holding multiple roles, often working third shifts at home or on the farm. They may experience a lack of recognition for those contributions.

In addressing high-risk drinking among older adults, Chasek noted an unrecognized form of ageism may be at play.

“Let older folks do their thing,” she said is s a common attitude. “They’re older, you can’t change people now, so let’s not look at it.”

But according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, up to 65% of people 65 or older report high-risk drinking, defined for that age group as exceeding seven standard drinks a week for men and five standard drinks for women.

An older adult processes alcohol differently, Chasek added, because of the body’s water content or ability to metabolize substances. Grief and loss compounds with age and is a contributing social factor to high-risk drinking.

“There is a lot of shame and stigma around behavioral health in general and especially substance abuse,” she said.

Data shows a higher rate of substance use disorders in rural areas, coinciding with a shortage of behavioral health providers.

“Close friends and family are the most likely to notice when an older loved one is turning to alcohol or other substances to cope with stress,” said Matt Nuckols, coordinator of the Virginia Farm Bureau Safety Program. “It’s important they make sure their loved ones are regularly seeing a primary physician to help monitor abuse issues.”

Other resources also are available, like the AgriStress Helpline at 833-897-2474 or agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline. Visit bit.ly/436cV8W to view the AgriSafe webinar.

Media: Contact Chasek at 402-554- 3559 or Nuckols at 804-938-204