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

Module Content Introduction The Problem Benefits and Risks of Alcohol Use Specific Concerns for Older Adults Who Should Never Drink Alcohol What Can You Do? Summary

Specific Concerns for Older Adults

Alcohol can have negative effects on people of all ages. However, when older adults drink alcohol, there are specific concerns. Alcohol can be dangerous to the health and well-being of an older adult because:

1. Older adults are more likely to have at least one chronic illness.
   Alcohol can trigger a new medical problem or make an existing medical problem worse. Some examples are:
   • High blood pressure
   • Heart attacks
   • Strokes
   • Diabetes
   • Depression
   • Malnutrition
2. Older adults are more likely to be taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines for their current diseases and conditions. These drugs can interact in dangerous ways with alcohol to cause:
   • Drowsiness
   • Confusion
   • Depression
   • Internal bleeding
   • Death
3. Age-related changes make the body more sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
   Due to slower metabolism and increased dehydration, older adults can experience more toxic effects. Alcohol can cause an increase in:
   • Falls
   • Emotional problems, such as depression
   • Confusion and unclear thinking
4. Diagnosis of alcohol abuse is more difficult with older adults.
   The criteria used to determine an alcohol problem do not work well with older adults because:
   • Small amounts of alcohol or infrequent use can cause negative effects.
   • Symptoms of abuse can be easily confused with common conditions in older adults.
   • Common problems, such as missing work, may not occur due to retirement.