This article examines the extent to which studies of
alcohol abuse,
illicit drug use, and
prescription drug abuse among older adults appear in the leading gerontological and
substance abuse journals. The authors reviewed articles published in the 10 social science gerontological journals and the 10 social science
substance abuse journals with the highest 5-year impact factors in PubMed from 2000 to 2010. Articles were selected that presented original research on alcohol, substance, or prescription abuse with older adults aged 50 and older; and were identified through aging and
substance abuse-related Medical Subject Headings and word searches of titles and abstracts (N = 634). Full text of each article was reviewed by the authors, and consensus determined inclusion in the final sample. Of the 19,953 articles published respectively in the top 10 gerontological and
substance abuse journals, 181 articles met the inclusion criteria of reporting findings related to
substance use disorders among older adults. Specifically, 0.9% (102 of 11,700) of articles from the top 10 gerontology journals and 1.0% (79 of 8,253) of articles from the top 10
substance abuse journals met the criteria. Most published articles addressed alcohol misuse/abuse or polysubstance abuse with few articles addressing
illicit drug use or the misuse of prescription medications. Less than 1% of articles published in the 10 gerontology journals and the 10
substance abuse journals with the highest 5-year impact scores addressed
substance abuse in older adults. Practitioners treating health and/or mental health problems are at a disadvantage in accurately identifying and treating these conditions in older adult populations without a proper understanding of the role of comorbid
substance use disorders.