Older people with problematic alcohol use vary in psychosocial functioning, age of onset for problem drinking and use of other drugs. The study measured the differential risks of all-cause, alcohol-, polydrug- and psychiatric-related repeated hospitalizations among older people with problematic alcohol use.
Design
A linked register-based cohort study with discontinuous multiple-failure (time...
This new annual themed issue of Advances in Dual Diagnosis will focus on issues surrounding dual diagnosis in older adults in order to improve assessment intervention, treatment and care of older adults with dual diagnosis from both public health and clinical perspectives.
Topics covered include (but are not limited to):
Epidemiology and demography
Prevention and early intervention
Psychology
Sociology, culture and ethnicity
Physical health and frailty
Treatment and recovery
Expert opinion (commentaries, personal views from experts by experience)
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 9 September 2021
ICUDDR, INL, ISSUP and NRC are partnering to host a global in person and online event from 11th – 16th May 2022 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. We welcome abstract submissions for sub-plenary and poster presentations at the event. DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The Drink Wise, Age Well programme was delivered over five years from 2015 to 2020 in five intervention areas across the UK.
The project had 4 objectives:
To raise awareness of the issue of alcohol misuse among people over 50, change attitudes, reduce stigma, convey harm reduction messages and influence community norms about the use of alcohol.
To increase individual and community resilience to alcohol problems in people over 50 and to reduce hazardous, harmful and dependent drinking and related harm in this age group.
To increase the extent to which community service providers and...
Source: Velayudhan L, McGoohan KL, Bhattacharyya S. Evaluation of THC-Related Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(2):e2035913. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.35913 Cannabinoid-based medicines (CBMs)...
Around the world, people are living longer, meaning the global population of older adults is increasing.
Older adults are often dealing with multiple health difficulties and are particularly vulnerable to the impact of substance use. There needs to be greater understanding about the reasons why older adults use substances, the potential consequences and the way professionals can work with people to reduce the risk of harm.
Below, you can find research and resources addressing the issue.
We have a Network dedicated to the subject of substance use amongst older adults. It would be...
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing issue in adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Older adults are more likely to take prescription medications and experience chronic health problems associated with aging, including chronic pain. These factors, as well as stressors such as grief and loss of independence, may contribute to substance misuse and complicate SUD treatment in older adults.
NIDA has gathered a selection of resources examining substance use amount older adults.
This factsheet reviews the special problems relating to the detection and treatment of older people with a history of substance misuse and those who are still using substances.
The fact sheet includes a selection of case studies, example questions to ask during assessments, and an overview of treatment options.
This presentation covered the results of a systematic literature review that sought to assess the existing evidence for interventions with people experiencing problematic substance use in later life.
Both Dr Hafford-Letchfield and Ms McQuarrie emphasised that while problematic substance use, especially in social work and social care settings, can be an over-looked or mis-diagnosed problem, older people respond well to interventions, if they are given the right support.
Abstract Objectives: The present study aimed to identify multidimensional typologies of harmful alcohol use based on the Swedish Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessment data on individuals aged 50 years and above. Methods: Latent class analysis examined 11 indicators from ASI data on 1747...
This article, published in the Addiction journal, outlines the need for further research into substance use issues in older adulthood. Behrendt, S. (2020). Research is needed to understand substance use disorders in old adulthood. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 115(4), 600.
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 18 March 2020
Format
Book
Published by / Citation
SAMHSA
Publication
This guide assists providers in offering treatment to women living with substance use disorders. It reviews gender-specific research and best practices, such as common patterns of initial use and specific treatment issues and strategies.
Kelly S, Olanrewaju O, Cowan A, Brayne C, Lafortune L (2018) Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design. PLoS ONE 13(1): e0191189. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0191189
Abstract
Background
Harmful alcohol consumption in older people has increased and effective approaches to understanding and addressing this societal concern are needed.
Methods
Systematic review of qualitative studies in older populations (55+ years) to identify barriers, facilitators or context of drinking in older people. Multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Social Sciences Citation Index, York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Cochrane database and grey literature) were searched from 2000 to February 2017 for studies in English, from OECD countries...
Soler-Vila, Hosanna, Rosario Ortolá, Esther García-Esquinas, Luz Mª León-Muñoz, and Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo. "Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Associated Variables among Older Adults in Spain: A population-based cohort study." Scientific reports 9, no. 1 (2019): 10401.
Given the current growth of ageing populations, alcohol consumption among the elderly has received increased attention.
What is deemed to be a ‘safe’ level of consumption has also been thrown into question, in the light of new evidence of a link between alcohol and illness in later life.
Psychological changes associated with ageing mean that older adults may have a reduced tolerance to alcohol. They may also suffer from illnesses which are potentially worsened by consumption and are more likely to take prescription medicines that can interact with alcohol.
Treatment for opioid use and outcomes in older adults: a systematic literature review Carew, Anne Marie et al. Drug & Alcohol Dependence , Volume 182 , 48 - 57
A new study published in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal focuses on an often-neglected topic – opioid use in older adults. This systematic literature review, Treatment for Opioid Use and Outcomes in Older Adults, included 76 papers on the topic of opioid use disorder, including misuse of prescription medication, and any interventions.
The researchers found that there were unclear definitions of “old” when conducting a review of existing literature in 2015 and a slant towards research focusing on the use of alcohol and prescription medications.