TY  - JOUR
AU  - LeQuang, Jo Ann
AU  - Pergolizzi, Jr., Joseph V.
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/04/17
TI  - Aging High: Opioid Use Disorder in the Elderly Population
JO  - OBM Geriatrics
SP  - 047
VL  - 03
IS  - 02
AB  - As the 80 million “baby boomers” reach retirement, they bring their relaxed attitudes toward drug use to create a clinically significant population of geriatric drug abusers. Opioid use disorder (OUD) brings with it special considerations in the elderly population: age-related changes to drug disposition, brain changes in the elderly, polypharmacy, and the likelihood of comorbid conditions (such as cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases) and pain syndromes. Thirteen percent of patients in a New York city methadone clinic were over the age of 60 and clinicians increasingly treat geriatric patients with OUD or other substance use disorders. Opioid abuse patterns suggest that older patients are more likely to overdose on prescription drugs while younger individuals are more likely to overdone on street drugs (heroin). Diagnosing OUD may be challenging in the geriatric population and there has been little research into age-specific rehabilitation efforts although it is reasonable to assume increasing numbers of aging people will seek treatment for OUD in the future. Once in treatment, outcomes for older patients with OUD are as good as or superior to those of younger patients.
SN  - 2638-1311
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902047
DO  - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902047
ID  - LeQuang2019
ER  -