Opioid Use Disorder and Its Treatment Among Older Adults: An Invited Commentary

Although nonmedical and illicit use of opioids disproportionately occurs 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.1 in their article. Medications for addiction treatment (MAT), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, are considered a cornerstone for treating OUD. Yet, MAT is underutilized because of stigma (e.g., toward persons with OUD and/or MAT itself) and structural barriers (e.g., limited insurance coverage and lack of providers), among other reasons.
Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Invited Perspective Source Type: research