The Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health (CCSMH) received a grant from the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) of Health Canada to create a set of four guidelines on the prevention, assessment, and management of substance use disorders among older adults for alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, and opioids. These guidelines are not intended to provide a comprehensive guide on the use of these substances either by medical prescription or recreationally. The goal of this document is to provide useful guidance for clinicians on either preventing the development of alcohol use disorder or optimally assessing and treating older individuals who have developed such a disorder.
