COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR REDUCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN PUBLIC HEALTH SETTINGS

Abstract

increasingly important global issue.  There are few prevention and intervention programs created especially for the elderly, and programs created for mixed-age groups may not adequately address the special and occasionally complicated needs of aging populations.  We present the results of a comprehensive analysis of the empirical data from research that formally assessed treatments employed with senior citizens and documented their results.  Thirteen of the 19 included studies were exclusively concerned with alcohol-related issues.  Eight programs used various forms of education, brief counselling, and screening. The others relied on behavioural, narrative, and integrated or multidisciplinary approaches that sought to address the needs of the elderly population in a comprehensive manner.  Reviewing evaluation practices was aided by the quality assessment of the study design.  The results suggest that well-thought-out and sustained intervention methods for PSU in later life should be implemented in settings where older people typically seek or receive assistance. These efforts should also intentionally connect with other aspects of health and well-being.  The viewpoints of older adults regarding their needs and help-seeking behaviours can be further explored.  To determine the worth of funding focused services for this underprivileged demographic, an economic assessment of the interventions' results would also be helpful