Although telehealth can broaden access to care, in-person care may be necessary or preferred for some or for those experiencing challenges with technology and digital literacy. In recent years, the number of older adults suffering from addiction has risen. This alarming trend is due to a combination of factors — including an increase in access to prescription drugs and alcohol and a decrease in family support and social interaction that occurred during the pandemic. Additionally, many older substance abuse in older adults adults deal with chronic physical or mental health issues that substance use disorders can exacerbate. This updated TIP is designed to help providers and others better understand how to identify, manage, and prevent substance misuse in older adults. Older adults are less likely than younger adults to receive screening and assessment for substance misuse.288 This is potentially dangerous because, as people age, they are more likely to feel the negative effects of drugs and alcohol.
Why Are Older Americans Drinking So Much?
Treatment often includes age-specific addiction support groups that allow seniors to motivate their peers and receive support from other individuals struggling with similar disorders and hardships. Working with clients in this population can certainly create a lot of frustration, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Counselors can experience many problematic mental health symptoms when burnt out such as toxic negativity; isolation or social withdrawal; anhedonia (loss of interest); or feeling keyed up, angry, or on edge.
Co-Occurring Mental Disorders
However, research on this is mixed, and the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. There is also evidence that many people continue to use both delivery systems to inhale nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Combined 2007 to 2014 NSDUH data indicate that, on an average day, 6.0 million older adults used alcohol (Figure 1).5 Older adults who used alcohol in the past month drank an average of 1.8 drinks per day on the days they drank. NSDUH data indicate that older adults who used alcohol in the past month drank on an average of 11.1 days per month. Also, baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) came of age when opinions about alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs were changing. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use “pennsylvania.gov” or “pa.gov” at the end of the address.
- As director of the Geriatric Day Hospital program, as well as the psychiatry clerkship, Lehmann feels an urgency to educate psychiatrists and physicians across all specialties about what she calls an under-recognized national public health problem.
- LBGT+ people have historically faced mental health problems at higher rates than their non-LGBT+ peers.
- Such changes include the death of someone significant to the client, a transition to an assisted living residence or nursing home, or retirement.
- The remaining 644,547 ED visits by older adults primarily involved adverse reactions to and accidental ingestion of drugs.
- The second section discusses how to screen for substance misuse in older adults.
Department of Human Services (DHS)
For example, Medicare Part B takes care of costs for services in opioid treatment programs. It is possible to have a mild substance use disorder where you might still be able to control it on your own with family support or counseling. Other times it can be more severe and require professional help such as inpatient treatment or medication to recover. Early recognition and treatment are some of the best ways to help anyone struggling with substance abuse issues. Late-onset alcohol or drug abuse often begins with medications doctors prescribed to manage a specific condition. In fact, one of the first-line treatments for pain, anxiety and insomnia is a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax.
She believes the most effective intervention is to raise awareness among all clinicians, so that substance use disorder among older adults can be addressed sooner rather than later. If your program cannot offer treatment for SUDs, refer your clients to counseling and tailored psychosocial supports that have the capacity to meet older adults’ unique needs. You should refer to the level of care that is the least intense yet will address all the client’s needs. Making a treatment plan only after getting a positive substance misuse screen, completing a full assessment, and making a diagnosis of SUD. Some medications can cause side effects that are similar to symptoms of depression (like trouble sleeping or feeling low energy).
