Opioid Misuse Sending More Older Adults to Emergency Departments, Study Finds

A study published in Innovation in Aging found emergency department visits by people 65 and older presenting with opioid misuse and dependence rose more than threefold between 2006 and 2014, reports EurekAlert . The researchers also saw a link between opioid misuse and a higher number of chronic conditions, greater risk of injury, and higher rates of alcohol dependence and mental health diagnoses. The authors said these findings emphasize "the critical need for additional research to better understand the national scope and impact of opioid misuse on older adults, as well as to better inform policy responses to meet the needs of this particular age group." They added that "targeted programs aimed at screening, intervention, and treatment specifically geared toward older adults are warranted. Results from this study also highlight the complexity of treating opioid dependence in this population, which reflect in part, high rates of coexisting mental health and other substance abuse disorders."