SMAD How to cite this article Cruz VD, Santos SSC, Oliveira MM, Moraes CL, Oliveira PC. The consumption of psychoactive substances among older adults: a complex perspective. SMAD, Rev Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. 2021 Oct.-Dec.;17(4):54-62. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2021.174432 SMAD, Rev Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. 2021 Oct.-Dec.;17(4):54-62 DOI: 10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2021.174432 www.revistas.usp.br/smad/ * Paper extracted from doctoral dissertation “O cuidado de enfermagem direcionado à pessoa idosa que consome substâncias psicoativas: uma abordagem complexa”, presented to Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. 1 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Escola de Enfermagem, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. 2 Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Enfermagem, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Vania Dias Cruz 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9729-2078 Silvana Sidney Costa Santos 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-9883 Michele Mandagará de Oliveira 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1363-7206 Cristiane Lima de Moraes 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9479-2867 Paola Camargo de Oliveira 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9169-7602 Objective: to describe the pattern of consumption of psychoactive substances among older adults from the perspective of complexity. Method: a qualitative survey of the multiple-case study type, carried out with eleven older adults at their homes and/or at a health service; data was collected through documents, unsystematic observation and semi-structured interview; they were analyzed in a general, analytical and theoretical way by comparing the cases; its theoretical axis was complexity, being approved by the research ethics committee. Results: regarding the pattern of consumption of psychoactive substances, two themes were found: encounter with the substance, which identifed older adults using legal and illegal substances, and forms of consumption; consequences and motivations of drug use and/or abandonment. Consequences are material/economic losses and crime, and motivations for socialization and escape from stress/anxiety. The older adults who stopped or reduced their consumption adhered to the harm reduction strategy. Conclusion: the consumption of psychoactive substances by older adults was evidenced, with space for the success of health/nursing interventions, with the creation of actions/ programs with a specifc approach to harm reduction. Descriptors: Aged; Drug Users; Health of the Older Adults; Nursing. The consumption of psychoactive substances among older adults: a complex perspective* Original Article