It is estimated that 17% of older Americans (age 60+ years) are at-risk for or suffer with alcohol and/or prescription medication use problems.
Moreover, the increase in illegal drug use among “baby boomers” (persons born between 1946 and 1964) has become a major concern in recent years -- between 2002 and 2007 the rate of illicit drug use doubled and is only expected to rise. Problematic alcohol and drug use contributes to a broad range of health and social problems as well as substantial early mortality rates.
In spite of these surprising facts,
substance use risks and problems in older adults frequently go unassessed and unrecognized by healthcare, social services and residential professionals.
there is a lack of effective treatment services for older adults who suffer with substance use problems and disorders.
LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT?
This link provides a list of treatment centers in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. They include:
Facilities that offer Detoxification Treatment, Residential, Intensive Outpatient Care & Extended Outpatient Care Treatment.
We provide training for organizations and agencies on topics such as how to identify, assess and help older adults who have substance use problems. Please contact us if you are interested.
RESOURCES FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION (click links to view the article) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Substance Abuse Among Older Adults (TIP #26) TIP #26 (DHHS Publication 98-3179) describes best practices in screening, assessment, and treatment of older adults who abuse or misuse alcohol, psychoactive prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medications.
PUBLICATIONS & OTHER RESOURCES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2011). A Profile of Older Americans: 2011. http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aging_statistics/Profile/2011/docs/2011profile.pdf
Barry, K.L., Blow, F.C., Schonfeld, L. (2004). Health promotion workbook for older adults (adapted to include medication misuse).
Barry, K.L., Oslin, D.W, & Blow, F.C. (2001). Alcohol Problems in Older Adults: Prevention and Management. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
Bartels, S.J.; Blow, F.C.; Brockmann, L.M.; Van Citters, A.D. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Among Older Americans: The State of the Knowledge and Future Directions. Prepared for Older American Substance Abuse and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland, August 11, 2005.
Blow, F.C., Barry, K.L. (2011). Substance use disorders among older adults. Presented at SAMHSA/Substance Abuse Prevention Older Americans Technical Assistance Center Training, Chicago, IL.
Blow, F.C., Barry, K.L (2012). Alcohol and Substance Misuse in Older Adults. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 12, 310-19.
Blow, F.C.; Brockmann, L.M.; Barry, K.L. Role of alcohol in late-life suicide. Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research 28:48S-56S, May 2004.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) #26. Substance Abuse Among Older Adults. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1998.
Colleran, C.& Jay, D. (2002) Aging and addiction. Center City, MN: Hazelden.
Fleming, M.F. Identification and treatment of alcohol use disorders in older adults. In: Gurnack, A.M. & Atkinson, R., eds. Treating Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Elderly. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co., 2002. pp.85-108.
Flores, Philip J. (2004) Addiction as an Attachment Disorder. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson.
Gambert, S.R. & Katsoyannis, K.K. Alcohol-related medical disorders of older heavy drinkers. In: Beresford, T.P. & Gomberg, E.S.L., eds. Alcohol and Aging. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. pp.70-81.
Gfroerer, J.; Penne, M.; Pemberton, M.; Folsom, R. Substance abuse treatment need among older adults in 2020: the impact of aging baby-boom cohort. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 69(2):127-135, March 1, 2003.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing–Helping People Change, 3rd edn. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (1995). The physicians' guide to helping patients with alcohol problems. Rockville, MD: U. S. Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, NIAAA.
Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA. Substance Use among Older Adults: 2002 and 2003 Update. US Department of Health and Human Services, April 22, 2005.