As adults age, there are changes in body composition that lead to decreased lean muscle mass and decreased total volume of body water available for alcohol to distribute 17, 18. As a result, a given amount of alcohol results in a higher blood alcohol level in older adults and ultimately puts older adults at risk for intoxication and harm at a lower intake of alcohol 16. Complementary therapies and activities, like animal-assisted therapy, may help your older clients improve certain aspects of their physical, social, and emotional health. But be sure to discuss with them both the benefits and potential limitations of these strategies.

• Medicare does not reimburse for services provided by mental health counselors or marriage and family therapists.
• This process can be used with or independently of acute detoxification, and followed up by one of our residential or outpatient programs.
• Many criteria are not relevant to older adults because of changing social norms in older adults 7.
• Staff recruitment, hiring, retention, supervision, and professional development strategies should include a focus on understanding evidence-based approaches that are effective and appropriate for older adults.

TIP 42: Substance Use Treatment for Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders

Person-centered care is the preferred approach for this population and emphasizes older clients' values, needs, and preferences from among a menu what is the best treatment for substance abuse for older adults of care options. Choose where we'll send you resources to support your health and financial well-being. Select an option(s) below that best describes you to get communication that matches your interests. Experts recommend that older people have no more than seven alcoholic drinks per week.

Illicit Drug Use

• This report provides evidence-based practices for screening and assessment of adults in the justice system with mental illness, substance use disorders, or both.
• Age trends in SUDs across ages 18–90 showed that disparities by race/ethnicity varied with age; for example, SUDs were more prevalent in Black adults at older ages and more prevalent in White adults at younger ages 81.
• This alarming trend is due to a combination of factors — including an increase in access to prescription drugs and alcohol and a decrease in family support and social interaction that occurred during the pandemic.
• Why including caregivers is essential for successfully treating older adults with substance misuse and co-occurring dementia or MCI.
• Information exchange can help you build a closer relationship with clients through a deeper understanding of their own experiences with making health behavior changes.

With these two professions shut out of the largest insurer in the country, Medicare beneficiaries do not have sufficient access to mental health treatment. Individuals ages 65 and older have lower odds of perceived treatment need than younger individuals, and often report a lack of readiness to stop using substances as one of their primary reasons to not seek treatment (Choi et al., 2014). As a result, older adults are more likely to be referred to SUD treatment from other sources such as community social service providers than from healthcare providers (Sahker et al., 2015).

Assessing Social Support

Some experience a decrease in serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters responsible for regulating moods and emotions. Reducing these neurotransmitters has been linked with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, increasing one’s risk for substance abuse or addiction. In recent years, the number of senior citizens seeking addiction treatment in the United States has skyrocketed.

Substance Abuse and Addiction in Older Adults

The use of standardized screening tools and specific diagnostic criteria will improve the identification of older individuals with SUDs. If detox is needed as part of the treatment for seniors, inpatient care is recommended due to their significantly increased risk for https://ecosoberhouse.com/ complications during the detoxification process. When a comorbid illness is also present, integrated treatment models that use teams of medical and mental health professionals to treat both disorders simultaneously is important. Compared to their younger counterparts, older adults are more vulnerable to the impacts of alcohol. The etiology is multifactorial, likely related to changes in neurocircuitry, neurovasculature, hepatic function, and adiposity that occur as a function of normal aging 5. For example, increased permeability of the blood brain barrier, decreased liver metabolism, and increased body fat predispose older adults to alcohol toxicity 16, 17.

• Which medications can have harmful interactions with alcohol and what those interactions include.
• Locally-based services address the needs of specific counties and regions and offer additional support to individuals, families, and communities, affected by addiction.
• Further, older people already experiencing cognitive conditions, including dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), may have difficulty using substances like alcohol and prescription medications safely and according to recommended guidelines.
• The content addresses many of the same key topics and messages, as well as new ones.

Program for Women

This program is suited for those with a dependence on a substance who require medical supervision when stopping use. Additionally, many inpatient facilities offer nutritional counseling, health and wellness activities (e.g., yoga/meditation, recreation space, outdoor activities, etc.), and a host of additional services and amenities. Additionally, risky behavior typically peaks in young adulthood, as youth struggle to secure employment, become financially secure, and reach a state of well-being. While these challenges often cause stress, confusion, and fear, young adults are still expected to take on new responsibilities.2 Unfortunately, these added stressors and widespread change can impact the development of substance use disorders. Residential services are designed for people who are in need of support in their recovery, and may not be able to participate in treatment without a 24-hour residential setting. Residential services are designed to develop or maintain recovery through a structured, substance-free setting, and can include group support, skills development related to independent living, and other services designed to promote recovery.

Ask clients to describe how close they are to each member of their network, how long they have known them, and how frequently they see them. Exploring with clients the role adjustments they may face related to retirement; death of a spouse, other family members, friends, or a sponsor; a move to another geographic area; or taking on a parenting role for grandchildren. Linking clients in institutional settings (e.g., hospitals, assisted living) to mutual-help groups that provide meetings in such settings, if available.