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The epidemiology of substance use and disorders among middle aged and elderly community adults: national survey on drug use and health.

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Date
2009-03
Authors
Blazer, Dan G
Wu, Li-Tzy
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Abstract
To estimate the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of drug use among middle aged and elderly persons in the United States and to compare with alcohol use in this age group.The 2005 and 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.A total of 10,953 subjects, age 50 years and older (6,717 subjects age 50-64 years and 4,236 subjects age 65+ years).Social and demographic variables detailed assessment of alcohol and drug use and disorders (marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, and heroin), major depression, and self-rated health.Nearly 60% of subjects used alcohol during the past year, 2.6% marijuana, and 0.41% cocaine. Both alcohol and drug use were far more frequent in subjects age 50-64 years and among men. Drug use, in contrast to alcohol use, was not associated with education but was more common among those not married and those with major depression. The prevalence of drug abuse or dependence in the 50+ age group was very low (only 0.33% for any abuse or dependence, 0.12% for marijuana abuse or dependence, and 0.18% for cocaine abuse or dependence). Nevertheless, the use of marijuana approached 4% in the 50-64 age group in comparison with 0.7% in the 65+ age group.Drug use is not prevalent, although use is much more common in the middle aged, suggesting that prevalence may rise substantially in the 65+ age group as the younger cohort ages.
Type
Journal article
Subject
Humans
Substance-Related Disorders
Data Collection
Health Surveys
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Alcohol Drinking
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Age Factors
Sex Factors
Age Distribution
Health Status
Socioeconomic Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Middle Aged
United States
Female
Male
Surveys and Questionnaires
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20011
Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1097/JGP.0b013e318190b8ef
Publication Info
Blazer, Dan G; & Wu, Li-Tzy (2009). The epidemiology of substance use and disorders among middle aged and elderly community adults: national survey on drug use and health. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(3). pp. 237-245. 10.1097/JGP.0b013e318190b8ef. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20011.
This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Scholars@Duke

Blazer

Daniel German Blazer

J. P. Gibbons Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry
I am currently semi-retired. Most of my recent work has been focused on roles with the National Academy of Medicine (former Institute of Medicine). I have chaired three committees during the past four years, one on the mental health and substance use workforce, one on cognitive aging, and one on hearing loss in adults. I currently also chair the Board on the Health of Select Populations for the National Academies. In the past I have been PI on a number of research
Wu

Li-Tzy Wu

Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Education/Training: Pre- and post-doctoral training in mental health service research, psychiatric epidemiology (NIMH T32), and addiction epidemiology (NIDA T32) from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health (Maryland); Fellow of the NIH Summer Institute on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials.Director: Duke Community Based Substance Use Disorder Research Program.Research interests: COVID-19, Opioid misuse, Opioid overdose, Opioid use disorder
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