Newsletter February 2025
Substance Use Disorder Providers and Operations
Trisha Thrush, PhD, LMSW
Director of SUD Services and Operations
Substance Misuse in the Older Adult Population
The implementation of the Mid-State Health Network Substance Use Disorder (SUD) 2024-2026 Strategic Plan saw a new focus on preventing and treating Substance Misuse Disorder (SUD) in Michigan’s older adult population. The focus is understandable given that nearly one in five Michigan residents are an older adult (aged 65 and older). According to 2021/22 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data, over 45% of Michigan older adults reported current alcohol use with 10.7% reporting binge alcohol use. In addition to alcohol use, in the same survey, nearly 7% of the older adult population in the state reported marijuana use and 8% reported use of any illicit drug. Sadly, this data can often be overlooked and undertreated by families, professionals, and among older adults themselves.
MSHN demonstrates its commitment to the prevention and treatment of older adult SUD in many ways. Recently, through the training and promotion of the prevention provider network in evidence based older adult programming like the Wellness Initiative for Older Adults (WISE). Developed by the New Jersey Prevention Network, the WISE program is designed to help older adults celebrate healthy aging and avoid substance misuse. The curriculum is delivered over 6 lessons, and the hour-long lessons include detailed information on the following topics:
- Understanding the Changes Associated with Aging
- Aging Sensitivity
- Valuing Cultural & Generational Diversity
- Medication and the Older Adult
- Substance Misuse, Addiction, & Older Adults
- An Enhanced Quality of Life
In July of last year, MSHN hosted a training course for contracted prevention providers with 13 individuals successfully trained in the WISE curriculum. Throughout the remainder of FY24 those individuals who received the training went on to deliver the lessons to over 300 participants within the MSHN catchment area. Some key findings from the National Council on Aging in the evaluation process of the WISE program include increased knowledge around the aging process, recognizing the early signs and symptoms of depression, and participants are more likely to see improved behaviors around lifestyle choices and healthcare empowerment.
Another way MSHN has committed to addressing SUD in older adults is through the implementation of an Older Adult Workgroup. Currently the group consists of MSHN prevention and community network providers, meets bi-monthly, and works to accomplish the MSHN 2024-2026 strategic plan goal of increasing access to prevention services for the state’s older adult population. Since its implementation in FY23 the workgroup has identified risk and protective factors that impact SUD in older adults across the state, identified barriers to service delivery, and improved collaboration across various state and local agencies.
The impact this group has had on delivery of prevention services to Michigan’s older adults is noted when comparing FY22 to FY23 Michigan Prevention Data System (MPDS) data. For example, the year prior to the initiation of the workgroup (FY22) there were 4 contracted providers who identified delivering 53 unique services to an older adult population. By comparison, in FY23 and FY24 there were more than double the number of contracted providers and triple the number of activities.
MSHN will continue these efforts and more to improve the quality and quantity of service delivery needed to prevent substance misuse in Michigan’s older adult population.
MSHNs SUD Strategic Plan for FY24-26 can be found on the MSHN website here.
For any questions related to MSHN’s Older Adult Prevention efforts, please contact Cari Patrick at Cari.Patrick@midstatehealthnetwork.org.