Screening for and Management of Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adults in Primary Care

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is commonly seen in older adults in primary care offices. OUD when left untreated, often leads to overdose deaths, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations due to opioid-related adverse effects, especially respiratory and central nervous system depression. Primary care providers are on the front lines of efforts for its prevention, early detection, and treatment. This includes using the lowest doses of opioids for the shortest possible time for management of pain, routine screening, brief intervention, opioid withdrawal management, prescription of naloxone to prevent overdose death, and treatment with medications and psychosocial interventions for OUD. Referral to addiction treatment centers may be needed in complex cases. This review explores the epidemiology, screening, as well as management of OUD as it pertains to the elderly population.