title: Substance abuse among older adults.
abstract: Although the myth that older adults do not use mood-altering substances persists, evidence suggests that substance use among older adults has been underidentified for decades. The baby boom generation is unique in its exposure to, attitudes toward, and prevalence of substance use-causing projected rates of substance use to increase over the next twenty years. Given their unique biological vulnerabilities and life stage, older adults who misuse substances require special attention. Prevalence rates of substance use and misuse among older adults, methods of screening and assessment unique to older adults, and treatment options for older adults are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Services and Policy Research, Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc, Columbia University Medical Center, 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 1404, New York, NY 10019, USA. Electronic address: alexis.kuerbis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuerbis
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Social Work, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Academic Development, Duke University, DUMC 3003, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Alison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Alcohol; Assessment; Assessment tools; Brief interventions; Older adults; Prescription medication; Substance use; Treatment