Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence Severity Among Older Adults in Treatment: Measuring Characteristics and OutcomesAlcoholism Treatment Quarterly: Volume: 26 Issue: 3 , pp. 241 - 258
The number of older adults is increasing, yet little is known about their responses to treatment for substance dependence. While age-appropriate measures have been developed for depression and alcohol screening among older adults, severity and outcome measurement for this population has not been addressed.
The purpose of the present study was (1) to add to the limited but growing literature on the older adult's response to treatment, and (2) examine the utility of a well-known measure of severity, the Addiction Severity Index (ASI; McLellan et al., 1992), in measuring baseline acuity and one-year outcomes among older adults in treatment for alcohol and drug dependence.
Participants (N= 67) completed the ASI and other measures at baseline and at 6 and 12 months post-treatment.
ASI alcohol, drug, family/social, and psychiatric composite scores improved significantly over time. Medical, employment, and legal scores did not change. Continuous abstinence was maintained by 71% at 6 months and 60% at 12 months after discharge.
The ASI captured changes in participant functioning over time, indicating it is a useful tool in measuring severity and outcomes among older adults.
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