CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Recognizing Alcohol Misuse and Abuse in Older Adults
3. Alcohol and Aging
4. Diagnosing Alcohol Problems in Older Adults
5. Recognizing Other Forms of Substance Abuse
6. Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies
7. Treatment
8. Outcomes and Cost Issues in Alcohol Treatment for Older Adults
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Resources

At Any Age, It Does Matter:
Substance Abuse and Older Adults (for Professionals)

Communicating Screening Results

Communicating screening results in an effective and supportive manner is crucial. Negative results should not be dismissed and positive results should be conveyed in a nonjudgmental and helpful way. Communicating results offers opportunities to reinforce healthy behaviors and to address unhealthy behaviors.

Sometimes a problem with alcohol or drugs can be caught early. The provider can give brief advice or conduct a brief intervention while communicating screening results. It may be possible to encourage the patient to reduce or stop alcohol use before problems arise or to seek treatment. However, if problems have already begun to develop and the patient does not seem to be aware of them or motivated to seek treatment, an assessment may be needed.