Please note: This is the pharmacology version of the course: Substance Use in the Older Adult R487B.ย Click here to take the general version (no pharmacology CEs).
Course Summary
Expiration Date: 09/13/2027
Although substance use disorder (SUD) is often associated with younger individuals, alcohol and drug use is increasingly becoming a concern among older adults. As social support systems decline and personal losses accumulate, many older individuals experience heightened anxiety and depression, making them more susceptible to turning to substances for temporary relief from their emotional distress. The natural aging process compounds the negative physical and emotional effects of substance use, and substance misuse can often mimic common age-related symptoms and making it more difficult for healthcare providers to accurately diagnose the problem.
Course Format
Homestudy
Course Syllabus
- Introduction
- Prevalence and Types of Substance Use
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition
- Alcohol
- Illegal Drugs
- Prescription Drugs
- SUD Health Effects in the Older Adult
- Cancer
- Immune System Disorders
- Liver Disease
- Brain Damage
- Drug Interactions
- Treatment
- Inpatient and Outpatient Programs for AUD and SUD
- Medical Intervention
- Case Study: Adherence To Treatment
- Summary
Author
Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI
Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.