Alcohol and substance misuse

Abstract

Older people now represent a group at highest risk of rising substance misuse. This applies to alcohol as well as both illicit and prescription drugs. It is a trend that is likely to continue for decades to come, during which time we expect to see further increases in rates of illicit and prescription drug misuse. These problems are likely to pose a considerable burden on public health and clinical services, the problems being compounded by comorbid mental and physical disorders, polypharmacy and psychosocial problems such as retirement, loneliness, and bereavement. There is considerable scope for education and workforce development to improve screening and assessment, as well as exploring barriers to entering treatment, treatment options, and factors to promote recovery. Given the limited evidence base for treatment of substance misuse in older people, there is a pressing need for further research through both observational and analytical studies.