title: Locations of facilities with special programs for older substance abuse clients in the US.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the growth of our aging population, developing strategies for managing late-life alcoholism is increasingly important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared substance abuse treatment facilities with and without services designed for older adults and explored the location of these services relative to the regional distribution of older adults across the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A public use dataset from a national survey of facilities offering substance abuse treatment was used to address this issue. This survey included all identified substance abuse/dependence treatment facilities in the US and surveyed the facilities' treatment services, services for special groups, number of clients admitted, type of ownership (e.g. public, private for profit), and whether or not the facility was associated with a hospital, as well as questions about licensure and income sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 13 749 responding facilities, relatively few programs (17.7%) were specifically designed for older adults (i.e. over age 65). Facilities with such programs tended to be associated with hospitals, particularly those with a psychiatric inpatient service. Importantly, the number of facilities with special programs for older adults did not correlate with size of the older population in each state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite an increasing need for older adult substance abuse services, there are relatively few programs available designed for this age group. The setting where patients with substance abuse are identified (e.g. in a hospital) may partially explain the pattern of locations of age-specific programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liesveld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States