Topic Overview
Many people think
alcohol and drug use problems happen only to teens and
younger adults. But all ages can have problems with drugs and alcohol,
including older adults.
Older adults may use illegal drugs, use prescription or
over-the-counter medicines in harmful ways, drink too much alcohol, or mix
alcohol and medicines. Doing any of these can cause serious health problems and
problems with money and the law. It also can harm relationships with family and
friends.
Substance use problems in older adults may be overlooked, because:
- Older adults are more likely to drink or use
drugs at home rather than in public.
- Older adults may not have
duties that are affected by substance use, such as going to school or
work.
- Signs of substance use problems are similar to those found in health problems
that many older adults have, such as
depression and
dementia.
- Caregivers of older adults may
be aware of the problem but may not want to talk about it.
Alcohol
An alcohol use problem is dangerous for all people, and it can be very
dangerous for older adults. Older adults:footnote 1
- Usually need less alcohol to become drunk
(intoxicated) than someone younger.
- Stay
drunk longer, because their bodies process alcohol more slowly.
- May
have vision and hearing problems and slower reaction times. Alcohol can make
these problems worse, which means alcohol-related falls, car crashes, and other
kinds of accidents are more likely.
- May be more likely to mix
alcohol and medicine because they are taking so many medicines. Mixing alcohol
with many over-the-counter and prescription medicines can be dangerous or even
fatal.
In older adults, alcohol can trigger some health problems or make
them worse. These health problems include
high blood pressure,
ulcers, liver disease,
anxiety, sleep problems, and depression.footnote 1
Experts suggest that adults 65 and older have:footnote 1
- No more than 1
standard drink a day.
- No more than 2 drinks on any drinking occasion,
such as New Year's Eve or weddings.
Some older adults should not drink alcohol. Women who are small may
want to ask their doctors what amount of alcohol is safe for them.
Misuse of medicine
Older adults often have to take many medicines. This can easily
lead to misuse of medicines. You misuse medicine when:
- You take too much medicine or take medicine
when you don't need to.
- You use older medicines or another person's
medicine.
- You take medicine to feel good or "high." This happens
most often with medicines used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety,
or pain you have had for a long time (chronic pain).
- You take
medicines while drinking alcohol.
- You don't get a prescription
renewed.
- You don't take medicine as your doctor directs, such as
not taking enough medicine or skipping doses.
Warning signs of substance use problems
Below are some of the warning signs of alcohol or drug use problems in
older adults. Signs can include changes in your behavior as well as changes in
your mental abilities.
If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone you care
about, talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about the drinking or medicine
use, including over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and dietary supplements. Tell
your doctor about any alcohol or drug use in the past.
Changes in behavior
You may have a drug or alcohol problem if:
- You fall a lot.
- You are not able to
make it to the bathroom in time (incontinence).
- You are
having more headaches and dizziness than usual.
- You are not keeping
yourself clean.
- You have changed what and how you eat. You may not
eat as much, for example.
- You begin to ignore and lose touch with
your family and friends.
- You begin to think about
suicide.
- You begin to have legal or money problems.
Changes in mental abilities
Here are some mental signs of drug or alcohol use problems:
- You begin to feel anxious a lot of the
time.
- Your memory becomes worse.
- It's hard for you to
focus or make decisions.
- You lose interest in your usual
activities.
- You have mood swings or feel sad or depressed.
If you have any of these signs, it may not mean you have a drug or
alcohol problem. Many of the signs listed here also can be signs of health
problems many older adults have. Changes in behavior also could be signs of
stress.
Drinking or misusing medicine or drugs often starts after a big
change in your life. Retiring, the death of a spouse or good friend, leaving
your home, and being diagnosed with a disease all can trigger substance use problems.
If a life-changing event happens to you or a loved one, watch for signs of drug
or alcohol use problems.
Treatment
Treatment for alcohol or drug use problems in older adults is the same
treatment as for younger people.
Detoxification, medicine, counseling, therapy, and
12-step programs all may be used.
If medicine misuse is the problem, sometimes talking to a
doctor, friend, or family member about the problem can help. Treatment could be
as simple as learning more about your medicines and organizing how you take
them. You may be able to work with your doctor to cut back on how many
medicines you take or make it easier to take them.
Your success in treatment is strongly linked to admitting that you
have a problem and to your desire to stop misusing alcohol or drugs.