By Frederic C. Blow, PhD, Angela Tiberia, MS, Erin Emery-Tiburcio, PhD, ABPP, E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging
Since 2010, population of adults aged 65 and older has experienced a rapid increase, growing by over a third. This surge is primarily due to advances in health benefiting the baby boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964. By 2034, one in every five Americans is projected to be over 65 years of age. The growing aging population has growing healthcare needs. For older adults with substance use disorders (SUDs), this demographic shift has significant implications for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
How bad is the problem?
From a public health perspective, while the actual rates of substance use disorders (SUDs) in adults aged 65 and older may seem relatively low, the sheer size of this population means millions are affected and remain untreated. For instance, in 2020, nearly 3.5 million older adults had a SUD, yet only 245,000 received any form of treatment.
Older adults have a variety of unique factors that contribute to their increased SUD risk. The baby boomer population came of age during a time of changing attitudes and beliefs around drugs and alcohol, contributing to higher rates of drug and alcohol use when compared to previous generations. Those who experienced substance use issues earlier in life are at a higher risk of recurrence as they age.
