Alcohol Abuse Is Rising Among Older Adults
“The trajectory over time is remarkable,” said Dr. Marc Schuckit, a psychiatrist
and addiction specialist at the University of California, San Diego, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new report.
Those over 65 remained far less likely to drink than younger people — about 55 percent
of older participants told interviewers they’d imbibed in the past year.
“It’s a lot more acceptable,” said Dr. David Oslin, a psychiatrist specializing in addiction at the University of Pennsylvania.
With each drink, an older person’s blood alcohol levels will rise higher than a younger drinker’s, Dr.
Schuckit noted; older people have less muscle mass, and the liver metabolizes alcohol more slowly.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen those rates go up since the 1960s,” Dr. Grant said.
In a study by Dr. Oslin and colleagues, seniors were far more likely to adhere to treatment.
“Read your drug labels,” Dr. Oslin said.
Still, that was a 22 percent increase over the two periods, the greatest rise in any age group.
He also entered its geriatric substance abuse recovery program where, he found, he was one of the younger participants.
The researchers’ definition: for a man, downing five or more standard drinks in a day (each containing
14 grams of alcohol) at least weekly during the past year; for a woman, four such drinks in a day.
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