Representation of Substance Use Issues in Old Age Within Norwegian Policy Frameworks

This study examines how national policies have framed substance use issues among older adults in Norway.

An analysis of 18 Norwegian white papers published between 2003 and 2024 by the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and related ministries was conducted through "What Is the Problem Represented to Be?" poststructural analysis.

White papers acknowledge increasing alcohol and substance use among older adults and depict these developments as significant challenges for health and social services both at present and in the future. In response, the following three strategies are proposed: promoting active aging to address inactivity, which can contribute to substance use; combating loneliness and isolation, which represent both the causes and consequences of substance use among elderly individuals; and implementing preventive home visits to help older individuals manage daily challenges and recognize early signs of harmful substance use.

Relevant policies primarily address alcohol and prescription drugs but largely ignore the so-called illicit substances. The strategies employed constitute a funnel, leading from broad and preventive strategies to narrow and curative strategies. Although this variation holds some promise, we argue that these policies inadvertently portray substance use in older adults as if all individuals with substance use problems share the same characteristics, experiences, and needs. This generalization risks exacerbating health inequalities among older adults who use substances.