Polypharmacy and slow metabolism of drugs create a high risk among older adults for substance use disorder, raising the odds of intentional and unintentional overdoses. However, screening, assessment, and treatment for substance use disorder occurs less often in younger adults.
Rates of overdose from opioids increased the most among people aged 65 years and older from 2021 to 2022 compared with among younger age groups. Meanwhile, recent data show less than half older adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive care for the condition.
Dr. Pooja Lagisetty spoke with Medscape about medications that target specific pathways as well as online programs that can help manage pain.