Pharmacology of Geriatric Substance Use Disorders: Considerations and Future Directions

Opinion statementThe aging of the baby boomer generation, with its relatively high rates of substance use disorders, will necessitate a broader understanding of the treatment of geriatric addiction and will require greater availability of evidenced-based pharmacological treatment options. The appropriateness of various treatments depends on the unique needs of this population. Limitations of treatment of substance use disorders in older adults are often attributable to dysfunctions in metabolism, as well as increased risk of adverse effects of certain drugs in the geriatric population. There has been some established success in treating substance use disorders in geriatric populations using currently available pharmacological treatments, however. Considering the available evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders in younger adults and adhering to the classic geriatric dictum of “start low, go slow, and monitor carefully” may serve as useful starting points in treating older adults in the absence of an abundance of high-quality clinical trials to guide evidence-based treatments in this population.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research