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Aging
and Alcohol Abuse
Aging and Alcohol
Abuse
Anyone at any age
can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have always
been a heavy drinker--his family may find that as he gets older
the problem gets worse. Grandma Betty may have been a teetotaler
all her life, just taking a drink "to help her get to sleep"
after her husband died--now she needs a couple of drinks to
get through the day. These are common stories. Drinking problems
in older people are often neglected by families, doctors, and
the public.
Physical Effects
of Alcohol
Alcohol slows down
brain activity. Because alcohol affects alertness, judgment,
coordination, and reaction time--drinking increases the risk
of falls and accidents. Some research has shown that it takes
less alcohol to affect older people than younger ones. Over
time, heavy drinking permanently damages the brain and central
nervous system, as well as the liver, heart, kidneys, and stomach.
Alcohol’s effects can make some medical problems hard to diagnose.
For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels
that can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack.
It also can cause forgetfulness and confusion, which can seem
like Alzheimer’s disease.
Mixing Drugs
Alcohol, itself a
drug, is often harmful if mixed with prescription or over-the-counter
medicines. This is a special problem for people over 65, because
they are often heavy users of prescription medicines and over-the-counter
drugs.
Mixing alcohol with
other drugs such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain killers,
and antihistamines can be very dangerous, even fatal. For example,
aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines; when
it is combined with alcohol, the risk of bleeding is much higher.
As people age, the
body’s ability to absorb and dispose of alcohol and other drugs
changes. Anyone who drinks should check with a doctor or pharmacist
about possible problems with drug and alcohol interactions.
Who Becomes a
Problem Drinker?
There are two types
of problem drinkers--chronic and situational. Chronic abusers
have been heavy drinkers for many years. Although many chronic
abusers die by middle age, some live well into old age. Most
older problem drinkers are in this group.
Other people may
develop a drinking problem late in life, often because of "situational"
factors such as retirement, lowered income, failing health,
loneliness, or the death of friends or loved ones. At first,
having a drink brings relief, but later it can turn into a problem.
How to Recognize a Drinking Problem
Not everyone who
drinks regularly has a drinking problem. You might want to get
help if you:
- Drink to calm
your nerves, forget your worries, or reduce depression
- Lose interest
in food
- Gulp your drinks
down fast
- Lie to try to
hide your drinking habits
- Drink alone more
often
- Hurt yourself,
or someone else, while drinking
- Were drunk more
than three or four times last year
- Need more alcohol
to get "high"
- Feel irritable,
resentful, or unreasonable when you are not drinking
- Have medical,
social, or financial problems caused by drinking
Getting Help
Older problem drinkers
have a very good chance for recovery because once they decide
to seek help, they usually stay with treatment programs. You
can begin getting help by calling your family doctor or clergy
member.
Your local health
department or social services agencies can also help.
Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) is a voluntary fellowship of alcoholics who help themselves
and each other get and stay sober. Check the phone book for
a local chapter or write the national office at: 475 Riverside
Drive, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10115; or call (212) 870-3400.
The National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides information
on alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Contact:
NIAAA
6000 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
(301) 443-3860.
The National Council
on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. can refer you to treatment
services in your area. Contact:
National headquarters
12 West 21st Street
8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
(800) NCA-CALL (800-622-2255).
The National Institute
on Aging offers a variety of resources on health and aging.
Contact:
NIA Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
(800) 222-2225, TTY (800) 222-4225.
National
Institute on Aging
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
1995
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