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)

Introduction

Screening any population for substance abuse raises key legal and ethical concerns. A major question is how to inquire about an individual’s alcohol and drug use while respecting that person’s autonomy and privacy. Screening of older adults for substance abuse brings these concerns into particularly sharp focus. This is true regardless of who is screening: a clinician, a staff member at a senior center, a clergyperson, an adult protective service worker, or others who work with older persons.