Journal Article

Overview of substance use and mental health among the ‘Baby Boomers’ generation

Abstract

As the population ages, risk factors commonly shared by chronic degenerative disease can be exacerbated by behaviours and lifestyle choices. There is increasing evidence that those affected by chronic disease (and associated symptoms such as pain), depression and adverse behavioral and lifestyle patterns are at risk of substance misuse. This paper overviews substance use in Baby Boomers - people aged between 52-70 years old, and the implications this may have on their mental health and well-being. We provide an overview of the characteristics of the Baby Boomer generation, their health status and what is currently known about their substance use and misuse. A strengthening of older adult mental health outpatient services is recommended to prevent and address substance use among older adults. Further research examining factors that influence substance use among this group could better inform health promotion programs targeting Baby Boomers.

Attached files

Authors

Cleary, Michelle
Sayers, Jan
Bramble, Marguerite
Jackson, Debra
Lopez, Violeta

Oxford Brookes departments

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences\Department of Nursing

Dates

Year of publication: 2016
Date of RADAR deposit: 2016-09-28

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

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Related resources

This RADAR resource is the Accepted Manuscript of Overview of substance use and mental health among the ‘Baby Boomers’ generation