There has been a misconception that older adults do not use or abuse mood-altering substances. Research has now shown that substance use among older adults has been under-identified for decades. With “baby boomers” and the growing issues with prescription medication, there is a new urgency to address the education, identification, and treatment of substance-use disorders among older adults. This program will introduce participants to the specific substances that are abused in the older adult population including illicit drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol. Treatment interventions, evidenced-based practices and older adult specific outreach programs will be reviewed. Case discussions will assist participants in problem solving difficult community situations. It is hoped that as communities recognize this growing concern, addressing these issues will become a priority.
Speaker: Linda Shumaker, RN, MA
Objectives:
1. Discuss the prevalence of substance use disorders in older adults
2. Differentiate the difficulty in recognizing substance use/ abuse disorders in older adults.
3. Understand the issues of health literacy in medication misuse among older adults.
4. List common screening instruments for older adults with substance use disorders.
5. Discuss evidenced-based treatment approaches for older adults
Agenda:
8:30 – 9 AM - Registration
9:00 – 10:30 – Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults– the Problem
• Demographics
• Generational Differences
• Diagnostic Criteria
• “Process Addictions”
10:30 – 10:45 BREAK
10:45 – 11:30 – Illicit drugs and Medication Misuse
• Illicit drugs / Prescription drugs used non-medically
• Issues in Opioid use
• Medication Misuse
• Medication Interventions
11:30 – 12:30 – LUNCH
12:30 – 1:45 Alcohol Abuse
• Types
o At “risk”
o Early Onset
o Late Onset
• Issues of “age-related” change
• Risks of Alcohol use with prescription medication
• Medication Interventions
1:45 – 2 PM BREAK
2:00 – 2:45 PM Assessment/ Older Adult Specific Treatment
• Assessments for alcohol
• Assessment for drug use
• Evidence-based practices and older adult specific intervention
2:45 – 3 PM Conclusions and Evaluations
Alt Names Free Training: Substance Abuse Disorders: Issues in Older Adults