CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Recognizing Alcohol Misuse and Abuse in Older Adults
3. Alcohol and Aging
4. Diagnosing Alcohol Problems in Older Adults
5. Recognizing Other Forms of Substance Abuse
6. Prevention and Early Intervention Strategies
7. Treatment
8. Outcomes and Cost Issues in Alcohol Treatment for Older Adults
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Resources

At Any Age, It Does Matter:
Substance Abuse and Older Adults (for Professionals)

Why It’s Important To Recognize Substance Abuse in Older Persons

With the aging of the population, problems related to substance abuse are becoming more acute. Current census estimates indicate that nearly 35 million people are 65 years or older.¹ According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse,² nearly 6 percent of people 65 and older have engaged in binge drinking in the past month and nearly 2 percent are heavy drinkers. This means that more than 2.5 million elderly persons have some sort of alcohol problem.

Substance abuse, including misuse of prescription drugs, among adults 60 and older is one of the fastest growing health problems facing the country. The problem affects up to 17 percent of older adults.³

It is crucial to address this problem, because the leading causes of death can be exacerbated or caused by alcohol abuse. Some populations are particularly at risk. The American Association of Retired Persons lists the following leading causes of death among older adults:

• African Americans: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, cirrhosis
• Asian/Pacific Islanders: cancer, diabetes, hypertension
• Hispanics/Latinos: heart disease, diabetes, cancer
• American Indians/Alaska Natives: heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia, influenza, diabetes