Global Perspectives on Substance Use Disorder in Older Adult Populations

Substance use disorder (SUD) among older adults is a critical area within public health, aging studies, and addiction medicine. Traditionally, research and interventions have focused on younger populations, leading to an absence of evidence and a lack of tailored screening, assessment and treatment models. This poses unique diagnostic and management challenges for this age group—such as comorbidities, polypharmacy, and age-related social changes. There is an urgent need for age-appropriate screening, assessment, and intervention strategies and tailored care models.Emerging epidemiological data and recent studies have begun to highlight the effectiveness—and limitations—of existing interventions as applied to older adults, barriers and facilitators to adapting prevention, assessment, and treatment strategies for older populations, but significant gaps remain in the evidence base. Age-related physiological changes, social stigma and the complexities of distinguishing substance-related symptoms from other medical or psychiatric conditions make diagnosing SUD more challenging and managing symptoms more difficult. This Research Topic aims to bring together global insights on emerging practices to advance the understanding of SUD in the older population. We aim to highlight the epidemiology of SUD in aging populations and evaluate screening and assessment tools used in older adults. Papers should aim to evaluate the effectiveness of emerging interventions, explore how to best implement and scale best practices for delivering care in varied cultural and healthcare contexts and consider the need for innovations in clinical and community-based practices.We encourage original research, reviews and that address substance use disorder among adults aged 60 and older across different regions and healthcare systems. We accept epidemiological studies and efficacy studies on screening, assessment, treatment and effective systems of care for aging individuals. Papers should explore age- and context-specific challenges and the identification of actionable solutions for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Epidemiological trends and global burden of SUD among older adults.- Age-specific screening and assessment tools for SUD.- Efficacy and adaptation of treatment interventions in older populations.- Implementation research on best practices in care delivery.- Social determinants, stigma, and barriers to care in later life.- Policy, ethical, and community perspectives in managing SUD in older adults.- Prevention strategies and education tailored to aging individuals. Topic editors: Lena Lundgren, Jennifer C Greenfield, Leslie Hasche, Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79810/global-perspectives-on-substance-use-disorder-in-older-adult-populations