Huss Research Chair on Older Adults with Alcohol/Drug Problems

Due to a generous donation made by the Huss Family Foundation, the Butler Center for Research at Hazelden is able to offer a permanently endowed Research Chair position on the topic of older adults and alcohol/drug problems to external researchers and scholars.

Individuals who hold a Ph.D. or M.D., and who have a research background in either older adults/adult development (or related areas) or alcohol/drug problems, are eligible to apply for the Chair. The position allows the Chair holder to maintain a joint appointment between her/his academic setting and Hazelden.

Together, Butler Center for Research staff and the chair holder(s) collaborate to conduct research in the areas of prevalence, prevention, intervention, treatment, continuing care, and family support for older adults. Applied research that has a direct application to clinical practice is emphasized. Results of the research projects will be integrated into Hazelden practice, and more broadly to general treatment practice.

In 2001, the first Huss Research Chair position was awarded to the team of Dr. Frederic Blow, of the University of Michigan, and Dr. David Oslin of the University of Pennsylvania.

Two research projects are currently underway:

• "Understanding the Impact of Addiction on Family Members of Older Adults"
  
• Interviews will be conducted with up to three family members of 100 older adult patients (55 and up) diagnosed with alcohol dependence and 25 patients diagnosed with benzodiazepine dependence. The family members will be asked about the effect addiction has had on family functioning, emotional well-being, and resources. Interviews will take place at treatment entry and at several time points after discharge. The intent is to determine how Hazelden and other programs can help family members during a loved one's illness.
  
• "Naturalistic Study of Older Adults Treated at Hazelden." This retrospective study of patients examines three questions:
  
• Are there unique features of alcohol dependency in treatment-seeking older adults? This study will compare characteristics (eg, symptoms, severity, health, function and social support) of patients in their 50s and 60s vs. those 70 and older, and will examine age of onset of alcoholism and gender differences in the two groups.
  
• Does age-specific treatment affect short-term patient outcomes? This effort will look at one-month outcomes of patients in age-specific treatment at Hanley-Hazelden and in the mixed-aged treatment at Center City, Minn.
  
• What are the clinical characteristics of older adults who abuse benzodiazepines? One month outcomes and characteristics of these patients will be examined. Gender differences will also be studied.

The goal of the Huss Research Chair is to help Hazelden better respond to the needs of older adults with substance abuse problems and to share that knowledge with the field. Data will be presented at national academic conferences, published in scholarly journals, and form the basis of future government or private foundation grant research.

Preliminary results of the Naturalistic study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry in March of 2003.