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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.
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