Adoption of Evidence-Based Treatments for Opioid Use Disorders for Older Adults in the Deep South

The opioid crisis has resulted in 16 million individuals worldwide suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). OUD affects more than one million older adults in America, highlighting the need to understand the treatment services available to this population. Although evidence-based treatments exist, there is a gap in their availability and accessibility for older adults. Despite many substance use prevention and recovery programs focusing on youth and young adults, older adults with OUD have unique needs that are often not met at traditional substance use facilities.

This study examines the availability of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs tailored specifically for older adults in five southeastern states (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi) in the U.S. data were collected from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services and analyzed to identify the number and characteristics of facilities offering treatment for OUD and medications to treat SUD. χ2 tests were used to compare facilities with and without older adult programs.

Data show that only 20% of the facilities providing treatment in the five states had programs tailored specifically for older adults. Alabama had the lowest proportion (16%) of facilities with services tailored for older adults. The availability of medications for OUD treatment was statistically different between facilities that treated older adults compared to those that did not.

The study highlights the urgent need for expanding the quantity and quality of substance use treatment systems in rural, underserved areas and emphasizes the importance of creating more programs that focus on serving older adults.