Baby Boomer's Substance Abuse and Researcher Indifference. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosen, Daniel; Engel, Rafael J.; Beaugard, Corinne; Davis, Nia; Cochran, Gerald
• Is Part Of: Journal of gerontological social work. Volume 62:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Older adults -- substance-related disorders -- alcohol-related disorders -- bibliometric analysis -- addiction; Social work with older people -- United States -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 362.6
• DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2018.1530715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0163-4372

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The current older adult population is more likely to need and seek treatment for alcohol and drug abuse than previous cohorts of older adults, which necessitates the need for age-appropriate substance use treatment. Building on previous research that examined the lack of attention on substance use among older adults, this study examines articles addressing substance use disorders among older adults in leading gerontological and substance abuse journals and federal funding between 2011 and 2017. Publications were identified from ten leading gerontological and ten leading substance abuse journals using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. During this time-period, there were 68 and 44 articles published in gerontology and substance abuse journals respectively related to substance use disorders in older adults. Most (59.8%) addressed alcohol abuse and 7% involved intervention studies. In the 7-year period, there were 13 federal grants. A paucity of published or funded work exists in this area despite growing misuse and treatment seeking among older adults with substance use disorders. Effectively addressing substance abuse in older adults will require a coordinated effort between researchers and practitioners to establish and implement best practices for practitioners to rely on when working with substance abusing older adults.