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

Psychological Factors

Confusion/unclear thinking
Failing memory or cognitive impairment can result in a person not understanding instructions for taking medications or remembering whether medication was taken.

Psychological impairment
Depression, frustration, and self-neglect can impair an older person's ability to take medication correctly.Alcohol can also affect the correct use of medicine.

Previous history of psychiatric disorder or substance abuse
Recent studies suggest that psychiatric diagnoses may put older adults at risk for abuse of prescription drugs. Older adults with mood, personality, and anxiety disorders are at higher risk for alcohol or medication dependence.

Older women are at high risk for receiving numerous prescriptions, particularly for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Older women are nearly twice as likely as older men to develop an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is common after a severe traumatic event like illness or loss of a loved one.