The Best Is Yet to Come

Order free copies of the "The Best Is Yet to Come" Alcohol and Aging Brochure from ABC's Education section.

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Alcohol and Aging

While alcohol abuse and misuse affects all people, it is a growing problem facing older Americans.

Alcoholic beverages, consumed in a conscientious and responsible manner, can enhance the flavor of meals; contribute to a food recipe; or help celebrate the quality of life that older Americans are entitled to experience.

However, older adults face distinct and often underestimated risk factors for substance misuse. These age-related factors range from life-changing events, such as retirement or bereavement, to mixing alcohol with prescription and over-the-counter medications.

For these reasons and others, alcohol abuse and misuse among older Americans has become a "hidden epidemic."

Knowledge Is Power

• Changing metabolism and proportions of body fat and body water contribute to the effects of alcohol on an older adult's body.
• Alcohol can interact with up to 50 percent of the most commonly prescribed medications to produce a host of adverse effects.
• Alcohol impairs the liver's ability to metabolize over-the-counter and prescription medications, and may result in coma or death. Adverse reactions may result from the interaction of even small amounts of alcohol and other medications.
• Older adults are susceptible to increased alcohol consumption from age-related risk factors, including life-changing events (retirement, lowered income, widowhood/bereavement, physical health issues) and mental-health challenges (loss of self-esteem, feelings of uselessness, depression or loneliness).

Awareness Is the Answer

• By 2030 people over the age of 65 are expected to account for 20 percent (approximately 70 million) of the U.S. population.
• Substance abuse among adults 60 and older is one of the fastest growing health challenges facing the country.
• Eighty-three percent of people over age 65 take some form of prescription medication.
• Seventeen percent of Americans 65 years or older, or 2.5 million older Americans, have issues with alcohol misuse.

Prevention through Education

If you are an older adult and suspect you might have a problem with alcohol, asking yourself the following questions is an early step in prevention and determining if you need to seek professional assistance:

1. Have you ever tried to cut down on your drinking?
2. Do you get annoyed when people talk about your drinking?
3. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
4. Do you ever have an "eye-opener" in the morning?
5. Have you ever increased your drinking after experiencing a loss in your life?
6. After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or skipped a meal because you didn't feel hungry?
7. Does alcohol sometimes make it hard for you to remember parts of the day or night?
8. Has a doctor or nurse ever said they were worried or concerned about your drinking?

Treatment

At times, older Americans do not reach out for help with an alcohol problem because there is a negative stereotype attached to alcoholism.

If you believe you have a problem with alcohol, do seek help through family, friends, doctors, mental health providers, religious leaders, treatment facilities or aging agencies. Treatment will increase your physical and mental quality of life. Your life will be enhanced as you are able to give back to the community.

Recovery

Older alcoholics have been effectively treated in age-integrated programs and in age-specific programs. When older Americans do seek treatment for an alcohol problem, they have the highest recovery rate for completion of treatment.

Alcohol and Medications

If you are an older adult taking medications, it is important to be aware of possible interactions with alcohol:

• Read all warning labels carefully.
• Avoid mixing alcohol with prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Speak with a health care professional or pharmacist about possible interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications if you plan to consume alcohol.

Some questions to ask your health care professional or pharmacist about the medication are:

• What is the name of the medication?
• What is the purpose of the medication?
• Will this prescription work safely with other medications, both prescription and over-the-counter?
• What are the possible side effects of the medication?
• What foods, drinks, and vitamins should be avoided while taking the medication?

A Message to Adult Children or Concerned Citizens

A number of signs and symptoms may indicate that an older adult has a problem with alcohol. These indicators can be difficult to detect and often are misinterpreted as signs of aging, dementia or depression-when, in fact, the person may be drinking too much alcohol or mixing alcohol with their prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Take these signs and symptoms into consideration when identifying an alcohol problem in an older adult.

Signs and Symptoms

• Changes in appearance, such as yellowish or unhealthy-looking skin, yellow or bloodshot eyes, swelling or losing weight
• Frequent headaches
• Excessive fatigue
• Frequent and unexplained injuries
• Behavioral changes, such as neglecting personal hygiene, confusion, forgetfulness, memory loss, isolation, mood swings and depression

Intervention

If you are an adult child, friend or caregiver of an older American who is in need of assistance with this issue, you can assist this person in several ways:

• Face the problem.
• Be direct with the individual.
• Be supportive.
• Offer encouragement and praise.
• Guide them to the appropriate resources for assistance.

For More Information

Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Call (804) 213-4688 or e-mail education@abc.virginia.gov.
Order free copies of the "The Best Is Yet to Come" Alcohol & Aging Brochure from ABC's Education section.

Virginia Department for the Aging
Toll-Free: 1-800-552-3402 - www.vda.virginia.gov
E-mail: aging@vda.virginia.gov

SeniorNavigator, Virginia's Resource for Health & Aging
(804) 827-1280 - www.seniornavigator.org
E-mail: info@seniornavigator.org

Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services
(804) 786-3921 - www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov

Sources: The CAGE questionnaire and Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test;
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
American Council for Drug Education.