title: Prevalences of illicit drug use in people aged 50 years and over from two surveys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  little is known about illicit drug use in older people. Prevalences may rise as populations for whom illicit drug use has been more common and acceptable become older.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to quantify illicit drug use in people aged 50 years and over in England and inner London and to compare this between 50 and 64 and 65+ age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  primary analyses used data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) and the 2008-10 South East London Community Health (SELCoH) Survey. Secondary analyses included additional data on 50-64 year olds from the 1993, 2000 and 2007 APMS, and on 65-74 year olds from the 2000 and 2007 APMS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  cannabis was the drug most commonly used in all samples. Prevalences of use within the last 12 months in 50-64 and 65+ age groups were 1.8 and 0.4%, respectively, in England and 9.0 and 1.1%, respectively, in inner London. Prevalences of use at any time previously were 11.4, 1.7, 42.8 and 9.4%, respectively. Lifetime cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and LSD use in 50-64 year olds had increased approximately tenfold in England from 1993. Lifetime and 12-month trends in tranquilisers were relatively stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  use of some illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, has increased rapidly in mid- and late-life.
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, MHOA&D CAG, London,  UK.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: Stephani L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotopf
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D016015:Logistic Models; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide