Analysis Of The Article Alcohol Abuse Is Rising Among Older Adults

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.

These statistics’ prove Engs theory that because Alcohol consumption is illegal for young adults tend to consume alcohol and abuse alcohol more often. If their theory was true the binge drinking rate for 21 to 25 years olds would not be 45.5% in 2010. Another statistic that proves Engs “forbidden fruit theory” wrong is the statistic noted by the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study, they found that a proportion of those 19- to 22-year-olds that binged drank two weeks prior to their surveyed in 1984 was 40.7% and their current study in 2006 found that only 38.1% binged drank 2 weeks prior to the recent survey, Which; proves that the 1984 act has decreased binge drinking by 2% in America. This drop in binge drinking rates may only be a small drop in binge drinking rates. Which, convey that Americans do have a high percentage of binge drinkers. This problem brings up another argument that supporters of lowering the drinking age bring up.

In the United States of America, there is a minimum drinking age of 21. The legal drinking age legally specifies the youngest age in which a person is allowed to consume and purchase alcoholic beverages. From country to country, there are varying ages of legal drinking ages. There is much debate in the United States on whether the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen from twenty one, or should remain the same. People in favor of lowering the drinking age propose that since eighteen is characterized as being an adult (legally and socially), one of the rights that should come along with that is drinking alcohol. Also, that if we were to lower the drinking age, less young adults would be

In the article “Drinking over the Lifespan” By: Jennifer E. Merrill, Ph.D., and Kate B. Carey, Ph.D. They talk about how many college students drink heavily and experience myriad associated negative consequences. Most college student’s drink, they tend to drink more heavily than their friends who don’t attend college. Many of these drinking patterns have affected many environmental and temporal characteristic specific to the college environment, including residential campus living, the academic week, and the academic year. A study shows that about 41 percent of 18-24 year olds are enrolled in post-secondary education. When teens are emerging into adulthood, they are trying to find out their own identity, which alcohol use might come in while

I started talking to him about how the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous started to stay sober only by chatting with each other. I reminded him of the “Big Book” of AA. I reminded him of a passage in the Big Book, of Alcoholics Anonymous; But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such and understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished. (Pg. 18)

To further develop their position, the author also explores the details of “binge drinking” and states that “youth often consume more alcohol in one sitting than adults, in part because the brain of a maturing adolescent can tolerate more alcohol with delayed effects as compared to the brain of an adult”. They go on to describe the possibilities and dangers of alcohol poisoning and the fact that every year, over four thousand youth deaths involve alcohol consumption. This statistic is backed up not only by the CDC in the article, but also in studies done by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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.

Presidents of college campuses around the nation face issues of underage drinking and binge drinking on a regular basis and realizes that it is a danger and a problem. “Alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., a major contributing factor to unintentional injuries, the leading cause of death for youths and young adults, and accounts for an estimated 75,000 or more deaths in the United States annually” (Wechsler 2010). Binge drinking can be loosely defined as consuming five or more drinks at one sitting for men and four drinks for women. Binge drinking amongst college students is a social activity that allows students to let loose and “fit in”.

“Everyday in the United States more than 4,750 kids under age 16 have their first drink,” according to study done at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That’s a lot of teenagers trying alcohol but wait; I thought the legal drinking age was 21 years old? If there are around 5,000 kids under 16 trying alcohol each day than why do we have a legal drinking age in place if people already are breaking it? I think if the drinking age was younger, less under aged kids wouldn’t be so tempted to start experimenting with drinking in the first place knowing that they didn’t have to wait until they turned 21 years old. Minnesota should lower the drinking age to 18 years old in bars and resturants because it will result in less binge drinking,

Therefore, with the multitude of Substance-Related Disorders (e.g., caffeine; cannabis; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; sedatives; hypnotics; and anxiolytics stimulants; tobacco and other substances) that need to be addressed within the older population, I have chosen to discuss the impact of Alcohol Abuse on the older population. Furthermore, I will address the following variables: prevalence and patterns of substance (e.g. Alcohol) exposure, and use and risk factors for addiction. In addition, I will address the following questions, 1 thru 4 posed in this assignment, beginning with the first question.

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).

Alcohol is one of many dangerous substances that effects our bodies. The effects of this drug can be very harmful. Alcohol is a potent non-prescription drug sold to anyone over the national legal drinking age, 21. Unlike other deadly drugs it is easy to access. This makes it easy to over-consume and create a tragic accident, even death. It can damage a person not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Many people each year become more and more addicted to alcohol and soon experience all of it?s dangerous effects. Even if alcohol use is discontinued, some of these damages can not be cured, because the scars have been left on those that drink and those that surround them. The only hope

(CT-1) above alcohol article said about how alcohol made up of and it’s effect. How people become addict with it. Why people using alcohol and how it affects our community. (CT-2) In my opinion I believe the authors of the article were saying that due to the misuse of alcohol teenagers, high school student and college students were dying a lots due to car accident. Author try to said that if reader is alcohol abuse than they should their habits and try to help people who have alcohol abuse common problems. Again, author try to say people do not make children alcoholic because if parents or relative are alcoholic or alcohol abuse automatically children will become alcoholic. (CT-3) before reading this article on alcohol I used to think alcohol is bad to health and person who are alcoholic they are too bad people. I will never test this alcohol. (CT-4) after reading this article than also my reaction was same to alcoholic people but I will try to help them in their reason to become alcoholic because some people used alcohol to become tension free. (CT-5) in my opinion I made conclusions that people who used and abuse alcohol please do not make your friends and family as like you and be careful and anything happen by reason and it have both negative and positive reason. (QL-1) in General graph tells me about which age group people are more alcoholic and how many of them are not currently using, how much

“Underage drinking is a leading contributor to death from injuries, which are the main cause of death for people under age 21. Annually, about 5,000 people under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking.( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).” This quote means underage drinking alcohol is the major cause of death and injuries for teenager who is under age 21. There were about 5,000 people under age 21 died in the accident that associated with alcohol every year. In the quote, it shows the disadvantage of underage drinking, which could cause the death and injuries of

In the United States, 17.6 million people – about one in every 12 adults, abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. (NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2012) The Mayo Clinic defines alcoholism as a chronic disease in which your body becomes dependent on alcohol (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010), and indicates that more than 100,000 Americans die annually from alcohol related causes (Johnson) . Aside from the physical problems that alcohol addiction can create, there are frequently emotional and social complications. Alcoholism is a disease that harms not only the alcoholic, but also the co-workers and family of the alcoholic.