As the population of older adults increases, the prevalence of late life addiction is also expected to increase because of “cohort changes”. The current demographic of 30 to 50 year olds were raised during the 1950’s and 1960’s and, as such, were exposed to increased abuse and addiction of heroin, cocaine, tobacco, marijuana and alcohol. Both current and historical substance use will have a large impact on the health of this population as it ages.
Geriatric psychiatrists will have an expanding role in the treatment of substance use and neurological/medical sequelae in elderly.
During this elective, fellows will have an opportunity to work on inpatient substance abuse consultations, outpatient treatment teams, outpatient detox as well as in rural clinics. The biopsychosocial impact on both patient and their families will be addressed. Fellows will have an opportunity to teach medical students as well as practitioners from other services.
Additional experiences in substance abuse can be developed through the research, health care policy and rural / ethnogeriatric electives.
Faculty includes: Michael Bogenschutz M.D., Florian Birkmayer M.D.
