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Older Adults

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Social Work Practice in the Addictions

Part of the book series: Contemporary Social Work Practice ((Contemp. Social Work Practice))

Abstract

As the population ages, greater numbers of older adults will need treatment for substance-related conditions. To prepare practitioners for these trends, this chapter provides an introduction to the epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of unhealthy substance use among older adults. Prevalence rates of substance-related conditions in comparison with younger age groups are reviewed followed by an examination of the specific challenges to the validity of diagnostic substance use disorder classifications with older adults. The chapter highlights age-specific risks of drinking and drug use arising from changes in organ function, body composition, and the common use of prescription drugs in late life. Risk factors such as treatment history, gender, and coping strategies are outlined with the goal of providing insights into both the sociodemographic profile of at-risk individuals and potential motivations for drinking in late life. With this foundation, we provide practical information on assessing and treating older adults. Assessment instruments such as the CAGE, the MAST-G, and the AUDIT are reviewed. The chapter concludes with an overview of treatment settings and approaches appropriate for older adults, with an emphasis on evidence-based practices such as brief intervention models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Paul Sacco

  2. Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc, New York, NY, USA

    Alexis Kuerbis

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Alexis Kuerbis

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  1. Paul Sacco
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  2. Alexis Kuerbis
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Correspondence to Paul Sacco .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Louis University, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, 63103, Missouri, USA

    Michael G. Vaughn

  2. University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, 48103, Michigan, USA

    Brian E. Perron

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Sacco, P., Kuerbis, A. (2012). Older Adults. In: Vaughn, M., Perron, B. (eds) Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Contemporary Social Work Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5357-4_13

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