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Alcohol Use and Abuse
Anyone at any
age can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have
always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his
drinking behavior is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma
Betty was a teetotaler all her life—she started having a
drink each night to help her get to sleep after her husband
died. Now no one realizes that she needs a couple of drinks
to get through each day.
These are
common stories. The fact is that families, friends, and
health care professionals often overlook their concerns
about older people’s drinking. Sometimes trouble with
alcohol in older people is mistaken for other conditions
that happen with age. But alcohol use deserves special
attention. Because the aging process affects how the body
handles alcohol, the same amount of alcohol can have a
greater effect as a person grows older. Over time, someone
whose drinking habits haven’t changed may find she or he has
a problem.
Facts About Alcohol and Aging
Some research has shown that
as people age they become more sensitive to alcohol’s
effects. In other words, the same amount of alcohol can have
a greater effect on an
older person than on someone who is younger.
Some
medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and
diabetes, can worsen with alcohol use.
Many medicines—prescription,
over-the-counter, or herbal remedies—can be dangerous or
even deadly when mixed with alcohol. This is a special worry
for older people because the average person over age 65
takes at least two medicines a day. If you take any
medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely
drink alcohol. Here are some examples:
Aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines;
the risk of bleeding is higher if you takeaspirin while
drinking alcohol.
Cold
and allergy medicines (antihistamines) often make people
sleepy; when combined with alcohol this drowsiness can be
worse.
Alcohol used with large doses of the pain killer
acetaminophen can raise the risk of liver damage.
Some
medicine, such as cough syrups and laxatives, have a high
alcohol content.
Effects of Alcohol
Even drinking a
small amount of alcohol can impair judgment, coordination,
and reaction time. It can increase the risk of work and
household accidents, including falls and hip fractures. It
also adds to the risk of car crashes.
Heavy drinking
over time also can cause certain cancers, liver cirrhosis,
immune system disorders, and brain damage. Alcohol can make
some medical concerns hard for doctors to find and treat.
For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood
vessels. These changes can dull pain that might be a warning
sign of a heart attack. Drinking also can make older people
forgetful and confused. These symptoms could be mistaken for
signs of Alzheimer’s disease. For people with diabetes,
drinking affects blood sugar levels.
People who
abuse alcohol also may be putting themselves at risk for
serious conflicts with family, friends, and coworkers. The
more heavily they drink, the greater the chance for trouble
at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers.
How to Know if Someone Has a
Drinking Problem
There are two
patterns of drinking: early and late onset. Some people have
been heavy drinkers for many years. But, as with great Uncle
George, over time the same amount of liquor packs a more
powerful punch. Other people, like Grandma Betty, develop a
drinking problem later in life. Sometimes this is due to
major life changes like shifts in employment, failing
health, or the death of friends or loved ones. Often these
life changes can bring loneliness, boredom, anxiety, and
depression. In fact, depression in older adults often goes
along with alcohol misuse. At first, a drink seems to bring
relief from stressful situations. Later on, drinking can
start to cause trouble.
Not everyone
who drinks regularly has a drinking problem, and not all
problem drinkers drink every day. You might want to get help
if you or a loved one:
Drink to calm your nerves,
forget your worries, or reduce depression.
Gulp down drinks.
Frequently have more than one drink a day. (A standard drink
is one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or a wine cooler, one
5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled
spirits.)
Lie
about or try to hide drinking habits.
Hurt
yourself, or someone else, while drinking.
Need
more alcohol to get high.
Feel
irritable, resentful, or unreasonable when not drinking.
Have medical, social, or
financial worries caused by drinking.
Getting Help
The
Manor House Rehab program saves lives on Life at a time. You
can further information at their website
http://www.manorhouserehab.com
Or you can call
them at 1-800-396-5534
Studies show
that older problem drinkers are as able to benefit from
treatment as are younger alcohol abusers. To get help, talk
to your doctor. He or she can give you advice about your
health, drinking, and treatment options. Your local health
department or social services agencies can also help.
There are many
types of treatments available. Some, such as 12-step help
programs, have been around a long time. Others include
getting alcohol out of the body (detoxification); taking
prescription medicines to help prevent a return to drinking
once you have stopped; and individual and/or group
counseling. Newer programs teach people with drinking
problems to learn which situations or feelings trigger the
urge to drink as well as ways to cope without alcohol.
Because the support of family members is important, many
programs also counsel married couples and family members as
part of the treatment process. Programs may also link
individuals with important community resources.
Scientists continue to study alcohol’s effects on people and
to look for new ways to treat alcoholism. This research will
increase the chance for recovery and improve the lives of
problem drinkers.
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