Premium
Substance use, health status and service utilisation of older clients attending specialist drug and alcohol services
Author(s) -
Lintzeris Nicholas,
Rivas Consuelo,
Monds Lauren A.,
Leung Stefanie,
Withall Adrienne,
Draper Brian
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12266
Subject(s) - mental health , medicine , psychiatry , cannabis , observational study , cognition , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , clinical psychology , nursing , pathology
and Aims The number of older clients attending drug and alcohol ( D & A ) services is increasing, although there is insufficient knowledge regarding service needs for this group. The aim of this study was to document the patterns of substance use, health status, cognition, social conditions, and health service utilisation of older clients in D&A treatment. Design and Methods A cross‐sectional observational study of 99 clients aged ≥50 years (M = 55, SD = 4.5; 77% male) attending specialist D & A services (N = 30 alcohol treatment, N = 69 opioid treatment) in S ydney, A ustralia. Participants completed a confidential research interview. Findings were compared to aggregated data from younger opioid substitution treatment ( OST ) clients attending the same services (N = 214). Results Alcohol (46%), benzodiazepines (40%) and cannabis (38%) were the most commonly reported substances used in the past 4 weeks; 23% reported no recent substance use, and 17% reported using three or more drugs. Participants reported high levels of physical and mental health problems, social isolation, low levels of employment, and a third reported difficulties with daily living activities. Forty percent had been injured in a fall in the past 12 months. The mean A ddenbrooke's Cognitive Examination‐R score was 82.4 ± 9.6, with 40% performing at a level consistent with severe cognitive impairment. A significantly higher proportion of older participants used alcohol and benzodiazepines than younger clients, and older participants had significantly poorer psychological health, physical health and quality of life. Discussion and Conclusions D & A services will require strategies to address the complex physical, mental, cognitive and social problems of older clients. [Lintzeris N, Rivas C, Monds LA, Leung S, Withall A, Draper B. Substance use, health status and service utilisation of older clients attending specialist drug and alcohol services. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:223–31]