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Substance Use Among Older Adults: Epidemiological Aspects, Associated Variables, and Organic Risks

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Drugs and Human Behavior

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Abstract

The impacts of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs use among the older adults are more pronounced and harmful compared to young adults. Several factors interfere with such harm, such as physiological (greater vulnerability to the effects of these substances), social (changes in social roles), and psychological (greater risk for the development of depression and anxiety) factors. Alcohol consumption has been one of the main concerns to the older population because besides being the most consumed drug, it is responsible for worse health outcomes. Therefore, it is fundamental that the preventive, screening, and diagnostic aspects be differentiated. In this chapter, we present the current scenario of the consumption of alcohol and other drugs by older adults, discussing aspects such as the epidemiology of drug consumption, population aging, and drug consumption and its interaction with alcohol consumption. In addition, we present possible strategies, interventions, and treatment for older adults who consume alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Camila Chagas, Tassiane Cristine Santos de Paula & Cleusa Pinheiro Ferri

Authors
  1. Camila Chagas
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  2. Tassiane Cristine Santos de Paula
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  3. Cleusa Pinheiro Ferri
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Denise De Micheli  & Eroy Aparecida da Silva  & 

  2. Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    André Luiz Monezi Andrade

  3. Department of Psychology, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Richard Alecsander Reichert

  4. Department of Education, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bruno de Oliveira Pinheiro

  5. Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Fernanda Machado Lopes

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Chagas, C., de Paula, T.C.S., Ferri, C.P. (2021). Substance Use Among Older Adults: Epidemiological Aspects, Associated Variables, and Organic Risks. In: De Micheli, D., Andrade, A.L.M., Reichert, R.A., Silva, E.A.d., Pinheiro, B.d.O., Lopes, F.M. (eds) Drugs and Human Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62855-0_5

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