Alcohol Abuse In Older Adults

The article “Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered: An Option based upon Research” is about twenty years of research based underage drinking done by Ruth Engs. It talks about the way things were in the past compared to how things are now. The research done for this article shows that binge drinking is mostly found in the age below 21 due to the lack of being taught responsible drinking habits. In this article there are many statistics dealing with drinking at a college level over a long span of

Although substance abuse among the elderly, like alcohol is low considered compared to the general population, its prevalence is still high. A study showed the prevalence of alcohol related problems ranged from 1.4% to 22% (Adams, et al., 1993). It can be understood that the level of alcohol related problems diminishes as an individual ages.

Alcohol is the most abused licit psychoactive drugs that affect one 's ability to think rationally and distorts their judgement if consumed excessively. Alcohol addiction is an illness arising from prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks. An alcoholic is a person suffering from alcohol addiction. Prolonged excessive use of large quantities can eventually lead to chronic health diseases like cirrhosis of the liver, anaemia, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression seizures, gout and alcohol related accidents and crime. Statistics show that 9 million people in England drink more than the recommended daily intake while an estimated 8.697 died of alcohol-related deaths in 2014. According to the WHO worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Alcohol beverages with varied percentage content are consumed globally during religious, social, cultural events, festivals and other occasions. The use of alcoholic beverages has been an integral part of many cultures for thousands of years (McGovern, 2009). Over the centuries, there have been ongoing measures, research, interventions and policies which are aimed at promoting the moderate use of alcohol with a particular emphasis on preventing or reducing undesired outcomes. This essay will outline the key components of brief interventions in alcohol, the difference in approach with traditional methods of treatment and in conclusion, the

Alcohol abuse has become one of the principal causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States causing more than 200,000 deaths every year (Hendey, Dery, Barnes, Snowden, &

Alcoholism has become one of the most prevalent diseases in our society today. The everyday pressures of life and the burden of worries that we face every day have served as a catalyst for this growing affliction.

Recent studies show that approximately fifty-three percent of adults in the United States have one or more close relatives that have drinking problems. Alcohol Abuse has cost the United States more than 220 billion dollars in 2005 alone. Problem drinkers are most often found in young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years old, and the fewest in adults who are 65 years of age or older. Alcohol Abuse is one of the major risk factors for violence, and research shows that fifty percent of all homicides and forty percent of all assaults in the United States are alcohol related. In the United States, more than forty percent of the people who start drinking when they are fourteen years old or younger are more likely to become alcoholics than those who don’t. One in ten Americans, currently have alcohol problems.

Substance abuse in the elderly exists just as in any other population. Many seniors develop substance abuse problems due to circumstances or situations due to the aging process. A report by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 17% of adults age 60 and older are affected by alcohol abuse and abuse of legal drugs.

Legal alcohol consumption has drastically increased in recent years, especially by women. From 2002 to 2013, the percentage of women who have reported binge drinking increased 13%. Men who have reported binge drinking has dropped 2% and all people from 18-29 who have reported binge drinking has dropped 4%. However, people over the age of 30 have all increased their levels of binge drinking dramatically. People 30-49 have increased by 10%, 50-74 by 24%, and 65+ by 23%. This could be due to increased tensions from a state of war since 9/11 as well as tax changes and price increases of health insurance (Glaser). College students have also increased their drinking habits over recent years. Compared to other people in the same age brackets as college students, students have consumed substantially larger amounts of alcohol. “58.0 percent of full-time college students ages 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month compared with 48.2 percent of other persons of the same age” (NIAAA study). They also binge drinking 5% more and have heavy alcohol use 4% more. There are many risks involving this increased alcohol consumption by college

Central idea: Alcoholism has been popular in modern society and it has so many health risks.

The Baby Boomer population is growing rapidly here in the United Sates and the issues of substance abuse and misuse among older adults is a concern. The prevalence of substance use among this population is increasing and the most common substances used are alcohol, prescription medications and over the counter medications. Continued use of alcohol and prescription drugs, we tend to see a rise in the number of older adults admitted to the hospital, with that comes higher healthcare costs.

According to our reading in Touhy, T. A., Jett, K. F., Ebersole, P., & Hess, P. A. (2016) that there is some possible health benefits to alcohol in some literature and as a result, older people may not perceive alcohol use as potentially harmful (p.374). Also in our reading alcoholism is more prevalent after hospitalization with the elderly at approximately eighteen percent and there is a higher percentage seen in people ages 60- 80 years of age (p. 373). It appears this is a common problem that needs to be addressed, because in my opinion eighteen percent is too high.

Many older adults abuse alcohol. There are many different reasons why the older population turn to alcohol. During this age group many of them experience many loses such as jobs because of retirement or disability (Fortinash & Worret, 2012). The loss of their job can lead to problems with money (Fortinash & Worret, 2012). Many older adults may also lose their spouse (Fortinash

The disease of alcoholism has so many different definitions and effects people a lot of people all over the world in so many different ways. The worst part of the effects of alcoholism is that it effects every individual differently so it hard to pin pointing what exactly causes it which makes understanding the disease that much harder. The age in which people start drinking is getting younger and younger and with that the people with alcohol problems is growing and growing; underage drinking can also effect the development of growing teenager and can really hurt them in so many different ways and the most important part is that it is against the law to consume alcohol if you are under the age of 21 but unfortunately that doesn’t deter kids from doing it. Even thought there are so many problems associated with alcoholism and the drinking begins at a younger and younger age there is hope the disease can be treated it is not a death sentence. Alcoholism can be treated though a lot of different channels life Alcoholics Anonymous can really bring those people that suffer from the disease back from the brink of death and for most it is a life changing program. Unfortunately even though alcoholism can be treating there are a lot of people out there that don’t ever receive treatment and they not only are putting their health in danger but they are also are putting innocence people in danger the longer they continuing on the treacherous path of alcoholism the higher the chance of

Alcohol dependence is known to be the most severe form of alcohol abuse. A person becomes so dependent on alcohol consumption that he/she loses sight of all the other important things going on around him/her. Family matters and social responsibilities become secondary worries to his/her primary concern for existence, which is drinking (Stephens, 2007). Nearly fourteen million Americans are somewhat dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependence is more prominent in men, and young adults ages 18-29 (Stephens, 2007). According to a study done by Saitz “85,000 deaths, along with substantial disability from medical and psychiatric consequences, injuries and “secondhand” effects (ex: motor vehicle crashes) are attributed to the use of alcohol” (Saitz, 2005).

The excessive intake of alcohol also referred to as alcoholism can cause diseases as well as negative connotation and lack of responsible social life particularly among the youth who should be the most productive age group in the American population.