Substance Use Disorders in the Elderly
- PMID: 36396274
- DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2022.07.005
Substance Use Disorders in the Elderly
Abstract
The population of elderly in the United States with substance use disorders (SUDs) is growing appreciably. SUDs among the elderly are often associated with poor outcomes and are frequently underdiagnosed. The current diagnostic criteria are less sensitive in identifying SUDs among the elderly. Routine screening with validated screening tools may improve the diagnosis of SUDs among the elderly. There is a dearth of data from controlled studies on SUDs among the elderly and the use of pharmacologic agents for treatment, although data indicate that older adults with SUDs respond well to treatments that are specifically designed for this age group.
Keywords: Alcohol; Cannabis; Elderly; Naltrexone; Older adults; Substance use disorders; Tobacco.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosure The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the article, including employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was used in the production of this article.
