Characteristics of older opioid maintenance patients.
The aging "baby boomer" population has higher rates of substance use than previous cohorts and is predicted to put increased demands on substance abuse treatment services; however, little is known about older illicit drug abusers. This study compared 41 older (age 50-66 years) and 26 younger (age 25-34 years) opioid maintenance patients on psychiatric, substance use, medical, general health, demographic, and psychosocial characteristics using standardized instruments. The health of both groups was compared to age and sex-matched U.S. population norms. Both groups had high rates of lifetime psychiatric and substance abuse/dependence diagnoses, and poor general health compared to population norms. The older group began using illicit substances significantly later in life, and had significantly more medical problems and worse general health than the younger group. The inevitable increasing medical morbidity and physical limitations of an increasingly large older population with substance use problems will challenge treatment providers and planners. Low rates of positive urine opioid tests occurred for both older and younger patients without age-specific services.
Lofwall
Michelle R
MR
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit and Addiction Treatment Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. mlofwal@jhmi.edu
Brooner
Robert K
RK
Bigelow
George E
GE
Kindbom
Kori
K
Strain
Eric C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers