Project dates: October 2015 - September 2017
There are a growing number of older adults with substance use disorders. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology, health status, and specific needs of this aging population. In addition, there is a gap in knowledge on how this impacts either their aging or their substance use treatment. This study will collect information on the prevalence of common geriatric conditions, physical and cognitive function, health care utilization, and key co-morbidities among a sample of older adults with opioid dependence enrolled in two large urban opioid treatment programs. It will compare the prevalence of geriatric conditions and co-morbidities to a matched group of national cohorts, and use qualitative methods to determine staff and patient acceptance of, and ability of staff to conduct geriatric care models in the existing opioid treatment programs.
Decreasing perceived risk associated with regular cannabis use among older adults in the United States from 2015 to 2019
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69 (9), 2591-2597. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17213. PMCID: PMC8440375.
Han BH, Cotton BP, Polydorou S, Sherman SE, Ferris R, Arcila-Mesa M, Qian Y, McNeely J (2022).
Geriatric conditions among middle-aged and older adults on methadone maintenance treatment: A pilot study
Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16 (1), 110-113. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000808. PMCID: PMC8243387.
Han BH, Masukawa K, Rosenbloom D, Kuerbis A, Helmuth E, Liao DH, Moore AA (2018).
Use of web-based screening and brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use by older adults
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 86, 70-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.01.002. PMCID: PMC5808575.
Han BH, Moore AA (2018).
Prevention and screening of unhealthy substance use by older adults
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 34 (1), 117-129. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2017.08.005. PMCID: PMC5718360.
Han B, Polydorou S, Ferris R, Blaum CS, Ross S, McNeely J (2015).
Demographic trends of adults in New York City opioid treatment programs – An aging population
Substance Use and Misuse, 50 (13), 1660-1667. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2015.1027929.