Faculty Articles

Diagnosis and Assessment of Substance Abuse in Older Adults: Current Strategies and Issues.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Addictive Behaviors

ISSN

0306-4603

Publication Date

1-1994

Abstract

Alcohol and substance abuse in older adults until recently has received little empirical attention in the literature. However, in light of the increasing number of older adults in the population, clinicians and researchers alike are recognizing the importance of evaluating specific assessment and treatment strategies for such older substance abusers. Because distinctive biological, cognitive, and psychosocial variables appear to be correlated with substance abuse in older adults, evaluation and intervention methods employed with younger cohorts may be inappropriate or ineffective with individuals 55 and over. Our article, therefore, examines these characteristics as they pertain to the unique problems and service needs of the elderly. Relevant diagnostic and assessment strategies are reviewed. Finally, suggestions for future work in this area are outlined.

DOI

10.1016/0306-4603(94)90050-7

Volume

19

Issue

1

First Page

41

Last Page

55

Comments

^The authors wish to express their appreciation to Charlotte Vanook and Burt G. Bolton for their technical assistance in preparation of this manuscript.

Peer Reviewed

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