SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• EXTENT OF PROBLEM
• Currently over 3 million
• Approximately 300,000 in FL
• 94 Primary care Physicians missed diagnosis
• 83 Older adults take prescription medication
• Multiple drugs,Doctors, Pharmacies

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• Hidden Problem
• Isolation
• Lack of appropriate screening tools
• Co-Morbidity
• Lack of awareness
• Shame

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• Cost to community and state
• Alcohol related hospital admissions
• Exaggerated health problems
• Creates new health problems
• Mental health problem exacerbated/created
• spent by Medicare/Medicaid for alcohol/drug
  related illnesses or injuries

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• Lack of treatment availability
• Current programs not age appropriate
• Difficulty relating to younger patients
• Need medical care availability
• Slower stabilization
• Language sensitivity
• Need life transitions focus

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• Recommendations
• Prevention Programs
• Age appropriate treatment programs
• Education
• Medical Community
• Pharmacists
• Health Care Workers
• Community at large

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

• Public Policy Efforts
• Expansion of Medicare/Medicaid coverage for
  treatment
• Coordination with Mental Health services
  providers
• Coordination with Public Health Agencies
• Case Management system to coordinate and advocate

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