Aging and Alcohol Abuse

Abstract

Demographic information suggests that the problems of alcohol abuse among the elderly will increase at least in proportion to the population growth of that sector. While fewer older people drink and average consumption declines, four factors that promote alcohol abuse are noted. These are: 1) retirement, with its attendant boredom, change of role status, and loss of income; 2) deaths occurring among relatives and friends and the awareness that more deaths are coming; 3) poor health and discomfort; and 4) loneliness, a particular problem among elderly women. Surveys in older age groups, in addition to being costly, are of questionable value. Anecdotal evidence and several early studies, however, suggest that a high proportion of elderly (10 to 15 per cent) who seek medical attention for any reason have an alcohol-related problem, and that elderly alcoholics, whether alcoholism is of early or recent onset, are relatively easy to treat. If these findings can be confirmed, then detection during health-seeking encounters could have great potential value. Research in detection and treatment is critical. A prevention strategy involving the cohort 55 to 64 years of age could have the dual effect of preventing subsequent alcohol problems among these people and offering a message that would be heard by those at older and less accessible ages.