Drug Overdose and Substance Use Older Adult Falls

Overdose and Fall Risk Concentration among Benzodiazepine Users

Dr. Donovan Maust

BZD prescribing to older adults continues despite decades of evidence demonstrating the risk for significant injury from both falls and OD. In the face of continued use, specific recommendations for prescribing have the potential to have greater uptake into clinical practice, but a lack of scientific evidence prevents this approach at this time. In response to the CDC Injury Center Research Priorities in prescription drug OD and older adult falls, we will develop a Policy Brief on Benzodiazepine Prescribing for Older Adults to help address the smoldering but largely unrecognized public health problem of BZD prescribing.