The impact of COVID-19 on opioid treatment programs in the United States.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to severely disrupt the delivery of methadone and buprenorphine, as social distancing and other public health regulations made in-person services difficult to maintain. Federal and state regulators changed requirements regarding the dispensing of medication and in-person counseling at opioid treatment programs. Understanding staff and patient reactions to these changes can help determine whether they should be maintained.

Alcohol use disorders in geriatrics.

Alcohol use disorders cause significant morbidity and mortality in the geriatric population. This review article begins with a hypothetical case for illustration, asking what the primary care physician could do for a geriatric patient with alcohol abuse over a course of four office visits. Various aspects of alcohol use disorders in the geriatric population are reviewed, such as range of alcohol use, epidemiology, medical/psychiatric impact, detection, comprehensive treatment planning, modalities of psychotherapy, medication management, and resources for clinicians/patients.