By 2050, 85.7 million people in the United States are projected to be 65 or older. Older adults are especially prone to the effects of substances, and a 2021 survey showed that 4 million older adults were dealing with a substance use disorder. As the country's population ages, clinicians will inevitably have to care for a greater number of older adults with substance use disorders, but the literature on the topic—and the evidence base for treatment—is limited. In Substance Use in Older Adults, more than 20 contributors translate their real-world experience in geriatric psychiatry into an accessible, evidence-based guide to screening for and assessing substance use in older adults. Early chapters discuss not only etiology and epidemiology but also comorbidities and management and subsequent sections address the problematic use of specific substances, including:
* Alcohol
* Tobacco
* Opioids
* Sedatives
* Stimulants
* Cannabinoids
Readers will find guidance on safe prescribing practices for older patients, as well as an examination of the cultural and ethical issues that may arise when working with this patient population. Rife with case examples that illustrate key points in clinical practice, Substance Use in Older Adults also features numerous tables that can be referenced time and again with information on comorbidities, screening frameworks, and interventions for specific substances; stigma-reducing language; the pharmacological implications of physiological changes in older adults; and more. Clinicians from psychiatric professionals to primary care providers will benefit from exhaustive listings of additional resources. This guide also includes resources for patients, families, and caregivers that will help to strengthen the partnership between clinician and patient.
Art Walaszek, M.D., is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin.
Chapter 1. Introduction to Substance Use Among Older Adults
Chapter 2. Comprehensive Assessment of Older Adults with Substance Use
Chapter 3. Management of Substance Use Disorder in Late Life
Chapter 4. Alcohol Use and Use Disorder Among Older Adults
Chapter 5. Tobacco Use Among Older Adults
Chapter 6. Opioid Use and Use Disorder Among Older Adults
Chapter 7. Sedative, Hypnotic, and Anxiolytic Use and Use Disorder Among Older Adults
Chapter 8. Stimulant Use Disorder in Older Adults
Chapter 9. Cannabinoid Use and Cannabis Use Disorder Among Older Adults
Chapter 10. Safe Prescribing practices for Older Adults
Chapter 11. Cultural, Structural, and Ethical Issues in the Care of Older Adults with Substance Use Disorders
