{"id":1231,"date":"2025-06-04T13:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T11:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/passpasselectrique.fr\/chapter-4-treating-alcohol-misuse-in-older-adults\/"},"modified":"2025-06-04T13:00:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T11:00:28","slug":"chapter-4-treating-alcohol-misuse-in-older-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/passpasselectrique.fr\/fr\/chapter-4-treating-alcohol-misuse-in-older-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4 Treating Alcohol Misuse in Older Adults Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults NCBI Bookshelf"},"content":{"rendered":"

Older adults are more likely to be taking multiple medications which increases their risk for drug-drug interaction and falls. Finally, continued alcohol use in late life increases the substance abuse in older adults<\/a> risk of falls, cognitive impairment, heart disease, hypertension, and hepatitis 12, 13. Despite these risks, older adults are less likely than younger adults to be screened and assessed for substance misuse 1.<\/p>\n

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Consumer Resources<\/h2>\n

Older adults are not a homogenous group, however, and their presentations may vary based on medical comorbidities, lifestyle factors, and duration and severity of substance use. Additionally, they may have a range of opinions and attitudes towards substance use; thus, an age and culturally sensitive and individualized approach can improve treatment outcomes 3. Some adults over 65 years of age may have better physical health status than their similarly aged peers. On the other hand, chronic alcohol use contributes to increased morbidity, exacerbation of existing health conditions, and neurotoxic and neuropathological changes 5. Despite this growing problem, AUD in later life is often underdiagnosed, underreported, or overlooked, and consequently is often not managed 4\u2022. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria are geared towards younger adults and may not appropriately screen and diagnose older adults.<\/p>\n

Clinical Scenario: Abstinence<\/h2>\n

Furthermore, the use of biologic screening (ie, laboratory tests) has limited utility and can be problematic in older adults, as isolating impaired bodily functions (ie, liver function) as the result of alcohol or other substances versus prescribed medications may be difficult. Each of the instruments listed next have strengths and weaknesses related to resources required to implement them or applicability to older adults. Problem substance use is characterized by those individuals who are already experiencing problems in the aforementioned areas as a result of their use. Identification of problem use among older adults does not depend on the quantity and frequency of use but on the context in which substances are used.<\/p>\n

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Customized Addiction Treatment Based on Your Needs<\/h2>\n

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This would lead to more person-centered care and decrease the need for multiple appointments, which can be particularly challenging for older adults. Collaborative models of care can achieve this goal either in-person or with the use of digital technologies (Ramuji et al., 2019). At the addiction treatment center where I am chief medical officer, the older adults we see typically take longer to get through detox. They also tend to be more prone to delirium and even Alcoholics Anonymous<\/a> hallucinations than younger patients. 17% of people in the United States over 65 years old have abused prescription medications, according to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. After exploring possible strategies to address her own health risks, Rose decides that she will stop drinking completely while she is taking the sleep medication and tell Ed why she can’t drink with him when they go out.<\/p>\n

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Addiction Treatment<\/h2>\n