Alcohol Abuse Advice

An increasing trend among Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Florida and across the country is the admittance of elderly patients with substance abuse problems. Family members assume its dementia, and attribute falls to decreased motor coordination that comes with age. It’s why alcohol abuse among the elderly often goes unreported, and why senior citizens are at an even greater risk than their younger counterparts.

There are many reasons alcoholism in the elderly community goes undetected – many are retired and no longer work on daily basis, their erratic driving is sometimes excused by law enforcement, they’ve lost their spouse and no longer have someone looking after them, they rarely leave home, and as mentioned earlier – their lack of coordination and sluggish memories are attributed to “old age” or medication.

Unlike some of their younger counterparts who begin drinking at a young age, those who abuse alcohol in the elderly community typically start drinking mid-life or later on, sometimes upon retirement, after a spouse has died, or in the case of war veterans, when they start to realize their mortality and flashbacks begin. They turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to ease their pain because they often feel lonely, as though they have no one to turn to. This is especially true for aging people who have outlived most of their friends.

According to statistics provided by National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, nearly one-fourth of Medicare payments for hospital visits are related to treating substance abuse. Another alarming statistic – one-third of Americans 65 and older drink alcohol, with at least 10% of that group abusing it.

Scientifically, studies show that drinking alcohol affects the elderly differently than younger people, particularly when there is already significant seeing and hearing impairment. Combine that with aging organs and their bodies will not metabolize alcohol the same as 40 years ago.

Elderly people typically take more medications that younger people, but some of these medications have very dangerous, even fatal interactions when mixed with alcohol. There are over 150 medications that can have negative interactions with alcohol including anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, anti-anxiety medications, allergy medications, sleeping pills, and painkillers. Despite warning labels on the bottles of these medications, elderly people will still drink, often not realizing the consequences of their behavior until it is too late.

If you suspect that a loved one is suffering from alcoholism or alcohol abuse, there are treatment options available, even for the elderly. Sometimes an alcohol abuse intervention is needed, and other times people will willingly admit they have a problem and seek help on their own. The important thing is that you support your loved one when entering an alcohol treatment center and throughout the recovery process. Treating alcohol abuse, even in the elderly is possible, but your loved ones can’t do it alone. They need your support.

Elder abuse!!! Don’t let it happen to someone you love.

Guardian and Conservator Laws are abuse of the elderly. Their motto is: Isolate, Medicate, take the estate. Seniors should beware, this could happen to you. www.stopguardianabuse.org www.sagenow.org

 

NH House debates marijuana bill
Filed under: elderly alcohol abuse

By Amelia Acosta, The Dartmouth Staff New Hampshire Senate Bill 409, currently under consideration in the state House of Representatives' Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee after narrowly passing 13-11 in the Senate two weeks ago, …
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Ambien Addiction: What You Should Know
Filed under: elderly alcohol abuse

The major interaction is with other central nervous system depressants and especially alcohol. It can also be used in the elderly at a lowered dose. Doctors may overprescribe, and patients may overuse which may cause ambien addiction.
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Pa. News Brief | Philly man sentenced on aid counts in slaying
Filed under: elderly alcohol abuse

A Philadelphia jury convicted 48-year-old Samuel Toy last month of hindering apprehension and obstructing justice but acquitted him of abuse of a corpse. The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/InGenB ) says that before sentencing Friday, …
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