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Research has shown that substance use, abuse and addiction are not limited to a specific age group. Problems related to substance addiction are an important cause of morbidity in the population aged 65 years and above, especially the abuse of prescription drugs and legal substances. A lack of evidence-based studies and tailored treatment options for the aging population is evident. Appropriate and effective health care is an important goal to improve the health-related quality of life of elderly people. Research in the increasingly aging population needs to include an age- and gender-sensitive approach.
Koechl et al. (2012) studied this question.