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)

Patterns of Alcohol Use

Older adults’ alcohol use should be considered as spanning a spectrum from abstinence to dependence rather than falling into rigid categories. This approach takes into account persons who follow the recommended guidelines but still have problems related to their alcohol use. It also considers those at risk for problems due to their consumption levels and consequences they may have already suffered.

Understanding drinking patterns helps in implementing prevention and treatment programs. Different approaches can be used for different types of drinking.

The spectrum of use includes:

• Abstinence
• Low-risk use
• At-risk use
• Problem use
• Alcohol/drug dependence (Barry, K.L.; Blow, F.C.; and Oslin, D. Substance Abuse in Older Adults: Review and Recommendations for Education and Practice in Medical Settings. HRSA/AMERSA monograph, in press)