Identifying, Screening, and Assessing Substance Misuse in Older Adults

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is available as an open-access article. Chapter 3 of this Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) will most benefit providers. It discusses identifying, screening for, and assessing substance misuse in older clients. In the United States and elsewhere, more and more people ages 50 and older struggle with substance misuse, but many providers do not screen for, diagnose, or treat substance use disorders (SUDs) among this population. Older adults are less likely than younger adults to receive screening and assessment for substance misuse. This is potentially dangerous because, as people age, they are more likely to feel the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. Older adults are also more likely to take multiple medications, which means they may face dangerous and potentially fatal drug-drug interactions. Furthermore, identifying substance misuse in older adults is not simple. The signs and symptoms of substance misuse can be easily mistaken for normal aging or physical or mental disorders common in older populations. Even so, substance misuse is detectable and treatable among older adults. Yet if left untreated or poorly treated, it can shorten their lives and keep them from living healthily and independently. For example, substance misuse increases the risk of falls, cognitive impairment, overdose, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, HIV, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and mental disorders. This chapter of TIP 26 will help behavioral health service providers, social service providers, and other healthcare providers who work with older adults better understand how, when, and why to use screening and assessment to address substance misuse in their older clients. This course on diagnosing substance misuse in older adults is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with diagnosing substance misuse in older adults. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: SAMHSA Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding diagnosing substance misuse in older adults. Specifically, a professional will: Recognize early warning signs of substance misuse in older adults. Describe how to fully assess older adults who screen positive for substance misuse. Identify strategies for treatment planning, treating, or referring to treatment. Citation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Identifying, Screening, and Assessing Substance Misuse in Older Adults. Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://store.samhsa.gov.