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National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism
AgePage
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 when 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
aspirin 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 or 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 also can 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
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
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
NCADD
20 Exchange Place, Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005
(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.
Printed by the National Institute on Aging, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.
1995
NOTE: The Printed version of the publication Age Page-Aging and
Alcohol Abuse is out-of-stock. This publication is only available
online via the NIAAA Web site.
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