Community Based Interventions for Problematic Substance Use in Later Life: A Systematic Review of Evaluated Studies...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Problematic substance use (PSU) in later life is a growing global concern.
• Existing interventions for mixed-age groups may not meet the unique needs of older adults.
• There is a lack of prevention and intervention strategies specifically designed for aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review empirical evidence on interventions for PSU in older people.
• To identify effective intervention strategies and evaluate their outcomes.
• To inform the development of targeted services for this underserved population.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 19 empirical studies evaluating interventions for PSU in older adults.
• Included studies focused on alcohol-related problems, screening, brief advice, education, and behavioral approaches.
• Quality assessment of study designs was used to review evaluation practices.

Main Results:

• Thirteen of the 19 studies focused on alcohol-related problems.
• Interventions included screening, brief advice, education, behavioral, narrative, and multidisciplinary approaches.
• Findings suggest a need for interventions aligned with health and well-being services and delivered in familiar settings.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable intervention strategies for PSU in later life should be well-designed and integrated with existing health services.
• Delivery locations should be accessible and familiar to older adults.
• Further research should incorporate older adults' perspectives and include economic evaluations.