It offers guidance on prescribing acamprosate, disulfiram, oral naltrexone, and extended-release injectable naltrexone. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that almost 1 million people age 65 and older have a substance use disorder (SUD), based on research conducted in 2018 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Studies have also shown that though these individuals are less likely to seek help, they can benefit from treatment just as well as those in other age brackets.

• There is an impression that alcohol or substance abuse problems cannot be successfully treated in older adults, there is the assumption that treatment for this population is a waste of health care resources.
• Note that substance use greatly increases the risk of intimate partner violence.
• Using tailored screening and assessment measures that were made specifically for older adults or are approved for use with them.
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use “pennsylvania.gov” or “pa.gov” at the end of the address.
• No matter when the addiction began, there are treatment options available to help seniors overcome addiction.

Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders

Fifty percent of young adults (ages 18-24) reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023, making them more likely than older adults to experience mental health symptoms (Figure 2). Young adults have experienced a number of pandemic-related consequences – such as closures of universities, transitioning to remote work, and loss of income or employment – that may contribute to poor mental health. Additionally, young adults in college settings may encounter increased difficulty accessing treatment. You may need to refer the client to an outside provider for SUD treatment if your setting cannot offer the level of care or types of services the client’s symptoms warrant. For example, a client may need inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation, but your program only offers outpatient care.

What are signs and symptoms of depression?

It is important to tell your doctor if your current treatment plan isn’t working and to keep trying to find something that does. As you get older, body changes can affect the way medicines are absorbed and substance abuse in older adults used. Because of these changes, there can be a larger risk of drug interactions among older adults. Share information about all medications and supplements you’re taking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Substance Abuse & Seniors: How Addiction Impacts Older Adults Differently

For more information about alcohol screening, see the “Screening and Assessment” section in Chapter 4 of this TIP. He has had older patients whose heart problems, liver disease and cognitive impairment were most likely exacerbated by substance use. Experts recommend that older people have no more than seven alcoholic drinks per week.

• Other forms of depression include psychotic depression, postmenopausal depression, and seasonal affective disorder.
• In fact, one of the first-line treatments for pain, anxiety and insomnia is a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax.
• The estimates presented in this report were based on the drug-related visits made by patients aged 65 or older found through a review of 5.2 million charts for ED visits occurring in calendar year 2011 in 233 hospitals.
• Decide whether other conditions are present that need to be addressed during treatment.
• Explore topics related to alcohol misuse and treatment, underage drinking, the effects of alcohol on the human body, and more.
• Some private payers have also improved coverage for mental health and substance use services by removing pre-pandemic telehealth coverage restrictions.

The estimates presented in this report were based on the drug-related visits made by patients aged 65 or older found through a review of 5.2 million charts for ED visits occurring in calendar year 2011 in 233 hospitals. Many people wonder if depression can be prevented and how they may be able to lower their risk of depression. Although most cases of depression cannot be prevented, healthy lifestyle changes can have long-term benefits to your mental health. Depression is common in people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Dementia can cause some of the same symptoms as depression, and depression can be an early warning sign of possible dementia. Suicide attempts may also increase in people recently diagnosed with dementia.

A Day in the Life of Older Adults: Substance Use Facts

Clinical Guidelines When Opioid Misuse in Older Adults Is Suspected