Substance Abuse Prevention in the Elderly: Review of the Literature

This DASA-funded project was based on a comprehensive review of the scholarly and professional literature on prevention of substance misuse and abuse among the elderly. The resulting literature review documents the extent of the use of alcohol, other licit and illicit drugs among this underserved population, and their effects, with particular attention to the relation between drug effects and behavioral, psychopharmacological, physiological, and other factors that may put elderly persons at risk for substance misuse or abuse. The review identified components of prevention and treatment strategies likely to be effective with elderly persons and makes recommendations for their implementation. Finally, collected programmatic and informational materials from other states and government sources were reviewed to provide a solid knowledge base for planning of services.

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