Problematic substance use in later life

Read the event report for Dr Hafford-Letchfield and Ms McQuarrie's webinar: Problematic substance use in later life.

This presentation covered the results of a systematic literature review that sought to assess the existing evidence for interventions with people experiencing problematic substance use in later life. Both Dr Hafford-Letchfield and Ms McQuarrie emphasised that while problematic substance use, especially in social work and social care settings, can be an over-looked or mis-diagnosed problem, older people respond well to interventions, if they are given the right support.

There needs to be more work, however, to fund and pilot and evaluate holistic interventions that address older people's health and wellbeing, including problematic substance use, that also involve older people in programme design and evaluation.