Abstract
This paper highlights a looming crisis that will soon significantly impact the health of many older Americans: substance abuse among aging baby boomers. It first outlines what is known both about the size of this population and its previous and current abuse both of licit and illicit substances. It then enumerates some of the most likely areas where this crisis will impact the healthcare system and the treatment of elderly Americans. The paper also discusses both the co-occurring nature of baby boomer substance abuse as well as its likely impact on co-occurring mental disorders. The paper concludes with a call for researchers and policy makers to quickly move to better understand and address this impending threat to the health and well-being of millions of older Americans and their families.