Alcohol in the older population, Part 2: MAST you speak the truth in an AUDIT or are you too CAGE-y?
The concept of the “older population” is changing as increasing numbers of baby boomers begin to age, bringing more and more clients to the attention of case managers. Alcohol use and abuse can mimic symptoms of illness and have negative consequences for the older population across physical, social, and psychological parameters. It is therefore necessary in good case management to consider the impact of substance abuse and addiction in the older and geriatric populations. The unique nature of this problem gives us much to consider, and a systematic approach can promote a timely resolution.
1 Patricia T. Bowman, MSW, CSAC, CCJS, MAC, has spent over 20 years in the fields of criminal justice, mental health, and substance abuse treatment. Dedicated to education and teaching from a hands-on perspective, she has designed, implemented, and conducted educational programs for clients, students, and professionals and consulted on agency accreditation programs and government publications on best practices in substance abuse.
2 Susan Gerber, MSW, CSAC, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a master's degree in social work. She is also a certified substance abuse counselor in the State of Virginia. She has been a part of the social work community for 10 years in the areas of mental health and substance abuse treatment and relapse prevention. She is currently employed with the Fairfax Alcohol Safety Action Program in Fairfax, Va., where, among other duties, she conducts education classes in substance abuse education and prevention.
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