Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults: Mini Review PMC

This guide will explain the importance of the issue, how to recognize the signs of use and abuse of different substances, and how to help. At present, SUD treatment for older adults is based on clinical experience and on studies conducted in younger populations, as most clinical trials for SUD tend to exclude older adults (Blanco et al., 2008; Blanco et al., 2015; Okuda et al., 2010). An important future direction will be to expand the evidence-base https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for the treatment of older adults. This could include new clinical trials with less restrictive inclusion criteria, use of electronic medical records and observational studies, and simulations, as well as a combination of all these approaches (Blanco et al., 2017). Prominent enabling factors for older adults are stigma and stereotyping. Societal norms tend to reinforce the perception that older adults do not have SUD (Kuerbis and Sacco, 2013).

Social Isolation

The DAWN results are evidence that prescription drug misuse does result in high numbers of older adults visiting the ED. Medication-assisted treatment can be particularly effective for older adults, especially when dealing with opioid or alcohol addiction. However, it’s crucial that medications substance abuse in older adults are carefully managed to avoid potential interactions with other prescriptions. RehabNet This rehabilitation organization is specifically for seniors living with drug and alcohol abuse or addiction. They provide a great deal of resources specific to this population and a 24/7 hotline.

• The first section of Chapter 3 is about the challenges to screening and assessing older clients for substance misuse.
• Indepth assessments allow you to better understand the full range of factors in clients’ substance misuse.
• To assess the prevalence of NCDs and the strength of the association of substance abuse among the geriatric population of North-eastern states in India, for the development of preventive strategies.
• Bupropion, varenicline, and nicotine replacement are options for nicotine dependence.
• Those living with substance abuse generally have more control over the situation, often drinking or using drugs to deal with stress.

Expert Insights on Addiction and Substance Abuse Prevention for Seniors

Knowing what to do after screening is as important as knowing why and how to screen in the first place. Whether negative or positive, you should inform all clients of their screening results. Read further to learn the specific steps to take next, which will differ based on the client’s screening results. Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5419 (PC-PTSD-5) is a five-item questionnaire that identifies clients likely to have PTSD.

• Studies have shown that people are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like binge drinking or drug use if someone close to them has had similar problems.
• Older clients may have limited vision or difficulty writing and may need help completing screens.
• They can provide an opportunity for older adults to connect with peers who have gone through similar struggles, providing a forum to share advice and strategies that have proven successful in managing their addiction.

A Day in the Life of Older Adults: Substance Use Facts

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Association between substance use and non-communicable diseases

Many tools described here were developed specifically for older adults. Some are self-report tools (i.e., clients complete the tools themselves); a behavioral health service provider must deliver others. Older clients may have limited vision or difficulty writing and may need help completing screens. Some health experts have called older adults who misuse substances an “invisible” population.307,308 Although older adults have frequent medical visits, behavioral health or healthcare providers often do not recognize substance misuse in their older clients. The second section discusses how to screen for substance misuse in older adults. Screening for substance misuse also includes screening for co-occurring mental and neurocognitive disorders that can affect (and are affected by) substance use, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dementia.

• This resource compendium is designed to complement the strategies discussed in other chapters of this TIP.
• Such conditions can also affect symptoms of substance misuse and treatment response.
• Whether negative or positive, you should inform all clients of their screening results.
• It’s never too late to start anew, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of living.
• And buprenorphine, naloxone, and methadone are used in opiate, methamphetamine, and heroin use disorders.

Social Support: The Key to Health, Wellness, and Recovery

• Using DSM-5 criteria to make an SUD diagnosis.534 Using an SUD assessment instrument based on DSM-5 criteria will improve diagnostic accuracy.
• Cognitive decline, already a concern for many seniors, can be significantly worsened by prolonged drug or alcohol use.
• Recommending that family members and other caregivers participate in family support groups for caregivers and mutual-help groups for family members such as Al-Anon.
• As reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug trafficking across the common border of Myanmar and the North-eastern states of India may have an impact on the increased substance use in these regions [43].

Nevertheless, healthcare and behavioral health service providers should assess how older adults use such medications, with an eye toward potential adverse reactions and interactions. The American Geriatrics Society’s 2019 Beers Criteria® address medications that are potentially inappropriately prescribed for older adults.319 See the Chapter 6 text box on the 2019 Beers Criteria®. Addressing the nation’s mental health crisis and drug overdose epidemic are core pillars of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda. These investments enabled the expansion of lifesaving prevention, treatment, and recovery services and supports in communities throughout the country, including the transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2022. Individuals ages 65 and older have lower odds of perceived treatment need than younger individuals, and often report a lack of readiness to stop using substances as one of their primary reasons to not seek treatment (Choi et al., 2014).

Ask older clients to identify members of their social networks by first name or initials only. Helping them build coping skills to meet the challenges of recovery from substance misuse. Helping them develop or broaden social networks that support recovery. Retention in ongoing treatment and recovery support, including mutual-help group meetings.

Substance Abuse Disorder in the Elderly Community is a Health Crisis