Care Considerations for Addressing Substance Use and the Opioid Epidemic Among Older Adult Populations: SELF-PACED ONLINE

Substance Use disorders in Older Adults is a growing problem not only in the United States, but throughout the developed world. This may be particularly relevant among people from the Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964. The use of an artificial cut off age of 65 years of age as the definition of elderly or old is somewhat arbitrary and this will be discussed. The presentation will look at the prevalence of substance use among older people with an added focus on opioid epidemiology. It will also provide an overview for screening and identifying substance use within this population group. Additionally, a broad biopsychosocial framework and sociohistorical lens will be utilized to analyze risk factors and vulnerabilities for substance use among older people. The presentation will conclude with care considerations that integrate psychosocial aspects of well-being and reinforce the importance of psychotherapeutic interventions.  

Learning Objectives 

• Review the opioid epidemiology and prevalence of substance use disorders within older adult populations. 

• Describe the signs and symptoms of substance use and misuse in older people

• Recognize broader sociohistorical perspectives and apply a biopsychosocial lens for understanding risk factors for and vulnerabilities with substance use among older people. 

• Assess the relevance and importance of psychotherapeutic intervention in older people, especially integrated health solutions, evidence-based health promotion programs, and alternatives for pain management.

Presented by: Benjamin H. Nguyễn, MSW, ASW, CPH

Benjamin H. Nguyễn, MSW, ASW, CPH is a public health social worker with over 10 years of experience in health and human services. He is currently a Clinical Training & Technology Transfer Specialist with the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (PSATTC) at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior; his main work is with SAMHSA's national Opioid Response Network (ORN) through Health and Human Service Region 09 (Pacific Southwest). Aside from this, he provides consultation for program evaluation, design, strategy, and geriatric social work. Most recently, he has been involved with supporting efforts of Westside Pacific Villages and the Southern California Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC) to support community age-friendliness, aging-in-place, external affairs, and geriatric community care management. Benjamin is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social Work for Western New Mexico University (WNMU); and provides telemedicine psychotherapy at Cerebral.

Continuing Education Units: 1.5 CEUs

This learning event is approved for continuing education by the following professional organizations:

• National

  • National Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)

  • International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)

• Nevada

  • Nevada Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, & Gambling Counselors

  • Nevada State Board of Nursing

  • Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

  • State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers

This learning event has been brought to you in collaboration with the Opioid Response Network. Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI083343 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Presentation materials are not for reproduction or distribution without specific written authorization. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of CASAT.

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