Identifying, Screening for, and Assessing Substance Misuse in Older Adults (3 credit hours)

Program Summary:    This course explores ways to identify, screen, and assess older clients for substance misuse.  The course provides an overview of screening tools for substance misuse and co-occurring mental disorders. A description of brief and full assessments is given, along with a discussion of age appropriate care for older adults.  Challenges to screening and assessing older clients for substance misuse are explored.  The reading includes Chapter 3 of SAMHSA’s TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

“Book  Open the Course Reading Here.

Readings:  TIP 26 Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults- Chapter 3

Publisher:  SAMHSA

Course Objectives: To enhance professional practice, values, skills, and knowledge by exploring ways to identify substance misuse in older adults.

Learning Objectives:  Describe challenges to identifying substance misuse in older adults.  Identify screening tools for substance misuse and co-occurring disorders.  Describe SBIRT.  Compare brief assessments and full assessments for substance misuse.

Review our pre-reading study guide.

Course Available Until: September 30, 2025.

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1: Older clients are _________ likely than younger clients to tell you that they are having a problem with substance use.
 
 
2: Older adults from ___________ may be more willing to discuss SUD and mental illness with their healthcare providers.
 
 
3: Older adults have ___________ tolerance for substances like alcohol than younger and middle-aged adults.
 
 
4: The CAGE-AID asks about
 
 
 
 
5: Using the GDS- Short Form, clients with a score of 6 or higher need further assessment and may need treatment for
 
 
 
 
6: Older ____________ may be especially at risk for anxiety.
 
 
7: Higher scores on the GAS indicate higher
 
 
 
 
8: Older adults with dementia are almost _____________ more likely to be victims of abuse as older people without dementia.
 
 
 
 
9: Which of the following tips may help you assess trauma fully but in a gentle, sensitive manner?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10: Current research suggests almost ____________ of Americans ages 65 and older have dementia.
 
 
 
 
11: The Mini-Cog is a brief screening tool that was created to detect dementia in older adults and takes about __________ minutes to complete.
 
 
 
 
12: Clients may find their substance use to be
 
 
 
 
 
13: Which type of questions are more thought-provoking and help clients share their own experiences in a more meaningful way.
 
 
14: Which of the following best describes SBIRT?
 
 
 
 
15: Most older adults at risk for substance misuse need formal specialized SUD treatment.
 
 
16: Older clients are likely to ________report their pain.
 
 
17: Older clients may be more likely to talk about
 
 
18: A person has ___________ times the risk of developing alcohol dependence if he or she has any first-degree relative with alcohol dependence.
 
 
 
 
19: Which of the following statements uses shared decision making?
 
 
 
 
20: Which kind of referrals might be appropriate for older adults with SUDs?
 
 
 
 

In order to purchase or take this course, you will need to log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for a free account.

After you log in, a link will appear here that will allow you to purchase this course.

G.M. Rydberg-Cox, MSW, LSCSW is the Continuing Education Director at Free State Social Work and responsible for the development of this course.  She received her Masters of Social Work in 1996 from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she has over 20 years of experience.  She has lived and worked as a social worker in Chicago, Boston, and Kansas City. She has practiced for many years in the area of hospital/medical social work.  The reading materials for this course were developed by another organization.

Course Available Until: September 30, 2025.
Filed under: Addiction, Aging, Clinical