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Substance Use and Misuse Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

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Title: Substance Use and Misuse Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review.
Authors: Alhalaseh, Lana (AUTHOR), Abushams, Leen (AUTHOR), Qudah, Rahaf (AUTHOR), Van Hout, Marie Claire (AUTHOR), Wazaify, Mayyada (AUTHOR)
Source: Substance Use & Misuse. 2025, Vol. 60 Issue 11, p1709-1719. 11p.
Subjects: Substance abuse risk factors, Substance abuse diagnosis, Substance abuse, Risk assessment, Benzodiazepines, Mortality, Medical prescriptions, Hospital care, Social factors, Tranquilizing drugs, Polypharmacy, Drug use testing, Systematic reviews, Opioid analgesics, Cognition disorders, Medical screening, Alcohol drinking, Accidental falls, Old age
Abstract: Background: With the global aging population projected to double by 2050, issues surrounding the misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications among older adults are becoming increasingly critical. Substance use and misuse in this demographic are often underdiagnosed and understudied, despite the rising prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the existing literature on medication misuse and substance use among older focusing on the types of substances most frequently involved, prevalence rates, contributing factors, screening & diagnostic strategies, and the associated consequences. Methods: The design for this scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework, scanning six bibliographic databases for English works, including original research, reviews, theses, books and book chapters, interviews, toxicology screens, websites, and commentaries published between 1977 and 2025. 88 articles, independently reviewed by two reviewers, were charted, synthesized, and assessed for common themes. Results: Alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines are reported to be the most abused and misused substances in this group, with polypharmacy and psychological factors contributing significantly to misuse. The consequences of such misuse are significant and encompass various physical, psychological, and social ramifications, including increased risks of falls, cognitive decline, hospitalization, and mortality. Conclusion: This study highlights the main factors influencing the surge of inappropriate use of substances and medications, the need for age-sensitive screening tools, and tailored treatment interventions. In conclusion, there is an urgent need for increased awareness, improved diagnosis, and prevention strategies to address this growing public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Substance Use and Misuse Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alhalaseh%2C+Lana%22">Alhalaseh, Lana</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abushams%2C+Leen%22">Abushams, Leen</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qudah%2C+Rahaf%22">Qudah, Rahaf</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Van+Hout%2C+Marie+Claire%22">Van Hout, Marie Claire</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wazaify%2C+Mayyada%22">Wazaify, Mayyada</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Substance+Use+%26+Misuse%22">Substance Use & Misuse</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 60 Issue 11, p1709-1719. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substance+abuse+risk+factors%22">Substance abuse risk factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substance+abuse+diagnosis%22">Substance abuse diagnosis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substance+abuse%22">Substance abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Benzodiazepines%22">Benzodiazepines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mortality%22">Mortality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+prescriptions%22">Medical prescriptions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hospital+care%22">Hospital care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+factors%22">Social factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tranquilizing+drugs%22">Tranquilizing drugs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polypharmacy%22">Polypharmacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drug+use+testing%22">Drug use testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systematic+reviews%22">Systematic reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Opioid+analgesics%22">Opioid analgesics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognition+disorders%22">Cognition disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+screening%22">Medical screening</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alcohol+drinking%22">Alcohol drinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accidental+falls%22">Accidental falls</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Old+age%22">Old age</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: With the global aging population projected to double by 2050, issues surrounding the misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications among older adults are becoming increasingly critical. Substance use and misuse in this demographic are often underdiagnosed and understudied, despite the rising prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the existing literature on medication misuse and substance use among older focusing on the types of substances most frequently involved, prevalence rates, contributing factors, screening & diagnostic strategies, and the associated consequences. Methods: The design for this scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework, scanning six bibliographic databases for English works, including original research, reviews, theses, books and book chapters, interviews, toxicology screens, websites, and commentaries published between 1977 and 2025. 88 articles, independently reviewed by two reviewers, were charted, synthesized, and assessed for common themes. Results: Alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines are reported to be the most abused and misused substances in this group, with polypharmacy and psychological factors contributing significantly to misuse. The consequences of such misuse are significant and encompass various physical, psychological, and social ramifications, including increased risks of falls, cognitive decline, hospitalization, and mortality. Conclusion: This study highlights the main factors influencing the surge of inappropriate use of substances and medications, the need for age-sensitive screening tools, and tailored treatment interventions. In conclusion, there is an urgent need for increased awareness, improved diagnosis, and prevention strategies to address this growing public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=186989744
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2513525
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1709
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse risk factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse diagnosis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Benzodiazepines
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mortality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical prescriptions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hospital care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tranquilizing drugs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polypharmacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Drug use testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systematic reviews
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      – SubjectFull: Opioid analgesics
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      – SubjectFull: Alcohol drinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accidental falls
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Old age
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Substance Use and Misuse Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review.
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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