You will be more likely to use screening and assessment once you understand why they are so important. In the end, this will help your clients increase their chances for recovery. Substance misuse affects older marijuana addiction adults differently than it does middle-aged and younger adults.
- In addition, ask about periods following treatment where clients were successful (e.g., what worked for them).
- Developing and implementing evidence-based approaches to social determinants of health will be key to improving the health of older adults and decreasing the risk of SUDs.
- Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone.
- Try using nonmedication treatments in place of or along with opioid treatment.
Alcohol Screening
In addition to this, while telehealth is becoming more common in the post-COVID-19 era, satisfaction with telehealth among older adults showed lower satisfaction among those with lower socioeconomic status and among certain minorities including Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans 82. These findings suggest an interplay between older age, race, and socioeconomic status that must be further explored to provide the most appropriate care for the geriatric population. Compared to their younger counterparts, older adults are more vulnerable to the impacts of alcohol. The etiology is multifactorial, likely related to changes in neurocircuitry, neurovasculature, hepatic function, and adiposity that occur as a function of normal aging 5. For example, increased permeability of the blood brain barrier, decreased liver metabolism, and increased body fat predispose older adults to alcohol toxicity 16, 17. As adults age, there are changes in body composition that lead to decreased lean muscle mass and decreased total volume of body water available for alcohol to distribute 17, 18.
- Of course, slurred speech, smelling of alcohol, and change in physical appearance are all signs that a person needs help and treatment.
- If your results indicate you maybe experience a substance use disorder, schedule an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional for a full assessment and to discuss treatment options.
- Both tools are available on NIDA’s website (/sites/default/files/pdf/nmassist.pdf).
- This is an important step in making sure clients get the right diagnosis and timely treatment (or treatment referral).
- We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders.
Chapter 3 Resources
The 2018 NSDUH estimated that for adults ages 65 and older the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and opioid (including prescription opioids) use in the past twelve months were 43 percent, 14 percent, 4.1 percent, and 1.3 percent, respectively. The twelve-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug use substance abuse in older adults disorder (DUD) (the NSDUH does not publish disaggregated information on specific drugs for adults ages 65 and older), were 1.6 percent and .4 percent, respectively. These findings are consistent with the results of the National Epidemiological Survey and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), which estimated the prevalence of AUD and DUD at 2.3 percent and .8 percent, respectively (Grant et al., 2015; Grant et al., 2016). Older people with serious mental illness (SMI; complex mental disorders like bipolar disorders and schizophrenia) are especially likely to misuse substances compared with older adults without SMI,345 but more research is needed. For example, of more than 7,000 adults ages 50 and older receiving inpatient services for SMI, 26 percent also met criteria for an SUD.346 The most common SUD was for cocaine (9.5 percent). The TIP consensus panel recommends that addiction treatment, other behavioral health service, and healthcare providers screen for alcohol, tobacco, prescription drug, and illicit drug use in all older clients at least annually.
Inpatient Treatment
On the other hand, disulfiram should generally be avoided in older adults due to its contraindications with cerebrovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, etc., that are more common in older adults 29. Aside from pharmacologic treatments, AUD is often treated with interventions such as twelve-step facilitation (TSF); in fact, there is high quality evidence that TSF interventions are more effective than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for increasing abstinence in those with AUD 30. Communication should be as clear and straightforward as possible, taking into account age-related brain changes, both normal and abnormal.
What are the most common substances of misuse?
As in younger adults, being white, male, divorced or widowed, and disabled, and having lower educational attainment, increases the prevalence of SUD (Chhatre et al., 2017). Call to speak to a compassionate admissions navigator at American Addiction Centers (AAC) and learn more about addiction treatment options or to start treatment today. You can also verify your insurance coverage using the confidential tool below. Addiction treatment can save families and individuals money in the long run, and many times Medicare or supplemental insurance can be used to help pay for the costs. Research supports involving clients with SUDs in treatment decision-making processes.539 In some cases, matching clients’ substance-related treatment preferences has led to improved outcomes.540 However, shared decision making in the context of SUDs can be challenging. Clients who have SUDs may have mixed feelings about whether they can, or even want to, stop using substances.
- Are taking alcohol-interactive prescription medications, especially psychoactive prescription medications (e.g., opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines).
- Patients with histories of comorbid depression should be closely monitored.
- Brief assessment helps make or rule out diagnoses and aids you and your clients in making appropriate shared treatment decisions.
- Older adults have not demonstrated high rates of drug or alcohol use over time compared with younger adults.
- Drug and alcohol abuse is harmful to health at any age, but never more so than in seniors.
- Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.
- Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers.
Start the road to recovery
Referrals to SUD treatment programs or mental health services for clients who need more indepth assessment or intervention. People with PTSD are at high risk for substance misuse.397 People with PTSD may use substances to help themselves cope and feel better. Even if a person does not meet criteria for PTSD, experiencing a traumatic event at any point in one’s life raises the risk for substance misuse.398,399 As with any other clients, explore whether older clients have a history of trauma. The CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener) Questionnaire is widely used to screen for risk of alcohol misuse. A “yes” response on any of the questions can mean substance misuse is present.