Opioid Use Disorder and its Treatment among Older Adults: An Invited Commentary on Joshi et al. (2019)

Although non-medical and illicit use of opioids disproportionately occur among young and middle-aged adults, opioid use disorder (OUD) and related consequences among older adults merit more attention as highlighted by Joshi et al. in their article.1 Medications for addiction treatment (MAT), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, are considered a cornerstone for treating OUD. Yet, MAT is underutilized due to stigma (e.g., toward persons with OUD, and MAT), and structural barriers (e.g., limited insurance coverage, and lack of providers) among other reasons.

Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - January 17, 2019 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Patience Moyo Tags: Invited Perspective Source Type: research