CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Alcohol
3. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
4. Barriers to Recognizing Problems
5. Signs and Symptoms of Misuse
6. Talking About Sensitive Issues
7. Assessing a Problem
8. Preventing Misuse
9. Intervention and Treatment

Supplements
Resources

Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Introduction

People drink for many reasons. Some drink to relax. Others drink in social settings or to gain social acceptance. Some drink because they are lonely or bored or to numb feelings of guilt or sadness. No one starts drinking alcohol with the goal of developing an alcohol problem or becoming an alcoholic.

Yet anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. You don't have to be an alcoholic to have problems with alcohol.

Older adults are of special concern. Older people don't have to drink large quantities of alcohol to have its negative effects. The path from social use to misuse or abuse can be very short. Alcohol can worsen medical conditions in older adults or interact with their medicines in harmful ways.

Alcohol can affect the health and well-being of older adults in many other ways. It can:

• Increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
• Decrease sexual functioning - impotence is a common effect of alcohol in men.
• Disturb sleep - lack of restful sleep increases fatigue and anxiety.
• Cause confusion, accidents, and falls - falls are a common cause of disability and hospitalization.
• Accelerate normal aging - brain tissue loss can interfere with the ability to think clearly.

This section focuses on alcohol use and specific concerns for older adults. We will cover:

• Sensible drinking limits for people over 65
• Benefits and risks of alcohol use
• Life changes that put older adults at risk of misusing alcohol