Older adults in substance use disorder treatment rising at higher rate than younger adults

The number and proportion of older adults admitted to substance use disorder treatment facilities between 2000 and 2017 increased substantially compared to younger adults, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

“While it has been estimated that 4.4 million older adults may need treatment for SUDs by 2020, their actual use of services has not been documented,” Peter Jongho Na, MD, MPH, of the department of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.

Na and fellow researchers sought to examine reasons for increased admissions to SUD treatment facilities as well as to document associated patient and population characteristics for those seeking treatment.

The study utilized nationwide information from the Treatment Episode Data Set: Admissions to assess yearly admissions to SUD treatment facilities between 2000 to 2001 and 2016 to 2017 for adults 55 years or older, compared with adults aged 21 to 54. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to analyze the impact of admission rates due to increases in the older adult population as well as to assess clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Researchers found that, from 2000 to 2017, the rate of older adults admitted to SUD treatment facilities increased by 203.7%, compared to 13% in younger adults, with actual admissions per 1,000 adults in the general population moderating the differences to 98.4% vs. 7.2%. Data additionally revealed older adults showed greater increases relative to younger adults in proportions admitted for cocaine/crack (OR, 5.35; 95% CI, 5.2–5.51) and cannabis (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.72–1.91) use, while showing a relative decrease in admission for opiates (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.73–0.8) and alcohol (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.78–0.8) along with changes in some demographics.

“The substantial increase in the number of older adults admitted for substance use treatment is consistent with previous studies in the U.S. as well as in other countries,” Na and colleagues wrote.