Aging and Alcohol Abuse
Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have always been
a heavy drinker--his family may find that as he gets older the problem gets worse. Grandma
Betty may have been a teetotaler all her life, just taking a drink "to help her get
to sleep" after her husband died--now she needs a couple of drinks to get through the
day. These are common stories. Drinking problems in older people are often neglected by
families, doctors, and the public.
Physical Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol slows down brain activity. Because alcohol affects alertness, judgment,
coordination, and reaction time--drinking increases the risk of falls and accidents. Some
research has shown that it takes less alcohol to affect older people than younger ones.
Over time, heavy drinking permanently damages the brain and central nervous system, as
well as the liver, heart, kidneys, and stomach. Alcohol’s effects can make some
medical problems hard to diagnose. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and
blood vessels that can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack. It also
can cause forgetfulness and confusion, which can seem like Alzheimer’s disease.
Mixing Drugs
Alcohol, itself a drug, is often harmful if mixed with prescription or over-the-counter
medicines. This is a special problem for people over 65, because they are often heavy
users of prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs.
Mixing alcohol with other drugs such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain killers,
and antihistamines can be very dangerous, even fatal. For example, aspirin can cause
bleeding in the stomach and intestines; when it is combined with alcohol, the risk of
bleeding is much higher.
As people age, the body’s ability to absorb and dispose of alcohol and other drugs
changes. Anyone who drinks should check with a doctor or pharmacist about possible
problems with drug and alcohol interactions.
Who Becomes a Problem Drinker?
There are two types of problem drinkers--chronic and situational. Chronic abusers have
been heavy drinkers for many years. Although many chronic abusers die by middle age, some
live well into old age. Most older problem drinkers are in this group.
Other people may develop a drinking problem late in life, often because of
"situational" factors such as retirement, lowered income, failing health,
loneliness, or the death of friends or loved ones. At first, having a drink brings relief,
but later it can turn into a problem.
How to Recognize a Drinking Problem
Not everyone who drinks regularly has a drinking problem. You might want to get help if
you:
- Drink to calm your nerves, forget your worries, or reduce depression
- Lose interest in food
- Gulp your drinks down fast
- Lie to try to hide your drinking habits
- Drink alone more often
- Hurt yourself, or someone else, while drinking
- Were drunk more than three or four times last year
- Need more alcohol to get "high"
- Feel irritable, resentful, or unreasonable when you are not drinking
- Have medical, social, or financial problems caused by drinking
Getting Help
Older problem drinkers have a very good chance for recovery because once they decide to
seek help, they usually stay with treatment programs. You can begin getting help by
calling your family doctor or clergy member.
Your local health department or social services agencies can also help.
Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a voluntary fellowship of alcoholics who help themselves
and each other get and stay sober. Check the phone book for a local chapter or write the
national office at: 475 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10115; or call (212)
870-3400.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides information on
alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Contact:
NIAAA
6000 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7003
(301) 443-3860.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. can refer you to treatment
services in your area. Contact:
National headquarters
12 West 21st Street
8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
(800) NCA-CALL (800-622-2255).
The National Institute on Aging offers a variety of resources on health and aging.
Contact:
NIA Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
(800) 222-2225, TTY (800) 222-4225.
Source: National Institute on Aging
Page last modified or reviewed on January 15, 2009
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Additional Information
Older Women
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Depression
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Alcohol
Treatment
Older Adults
& Medication
Anger
Management
Alzheimer's
Aging and
Mental Health
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