186871 Integrating Best Practices for Older Adults Engaged in Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 9:06 AM

Jose C. Salazar, DrPH, MPH , Director Program Development, Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc., Reseda, CA
     
With the aging of California's population and the continued increase use & abuse of alcohol/drugs by older adults; it's imperative that treatment providers be provided with innovative tools and approaches that can assist them in making their programs and services more culturally responsive. Nationally, the number of older adults is expected to double by 2030 and older adults are expected to represent one in every five persons residing in the United States. Inevitably this will place significant demands on the public health system, including the delivery of alcohol/drug treatment services. This workshop will discuss national trends in aging and the aging populations need and demand for alcohol/drug treatment services. Given the non-existent or serious under funding of specific alcohol/drug treatment services for older adults, this workshop will increase participants knowledge of no- and low- cost best practices (evidence based) which can be implemented to increase the culturally responsiveness of their treatment programs and services.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will: 1. Review trend data in reference to the aging population of the United States and California. 2. Discuss the increasing rates of alcohol/drug use among older adults (age 50 and older) and their participation in structured treatment programs. 3. Identify at least five barriers associated with providing culturally responsive AOD treatment services for older adults. 4. Identify at least five best practices that can be used to increase culturally responsive AOD treatment services for older adults.

Keywords: Aging, Drug Abuse Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: In my current capacity, I have been investigating the integration of alcohol/drug treatment services for older adults in a large AOD treatment provider agency located in Southern California which provides all levels of treatment (detox, residential and outpatient) and serves over 600 older adults per year. In addition, I am co-chair of the State of California Alcohol Drug Programs Aging Constituent Committee. In the past I have conducted oral presentations at APHA meetings on various health issues/topics including AOD.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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