Older Problem Drinkers Down More Alcohol, More Often
than Younger Counterparts
But adults over age 60 were less likely than other
groups to be in the abuse or dependence categories
Nov. 20, 2009 - Older adults who have alcohol
dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who
have similar problems, a new study has found. Those over age 60 gulp
down more alcohol per drinking session and have more binge episodes that
younger Americans.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that
adults over age 60 who have alcohol dependence drink more than 40
alcoholic drinks a week on average, compared to between 25 and 35 drinks
a week on average for those in younger age groups with similar problems.
In addition, older people with alcohol dependence
have more binge drinking episodes per month than do their younger
counterparts.
The findings suggest that older problem drinkers
may have developed a tolerance for alcohol and need to drink even more
than younger abusers to achieve the effects they seek.
A combination of high levels of drinking and the
physiological effects of aging are particularly problematic for older
adults, said Linda Ginzer, co-author of the study and a doctoral
student in social work at Ohio State.
Ginzer, who conducted the research as part of her
dissertation, did the study with Virginia Richardson, professor of
social work at Ohio State.
They presented their results November 20 in Atlanta
at a meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.
More often than not, we think of binge drinking as occurring
among college students or those in their 20s, Richardson said.
But the fact is, binge drinking occurs among older people as
well, and it is in fact worse among those who have problems with
alcohol. It is something that clinicians and researchers need
to consider.
The researchers used data collected in the National
Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. This was a
national survey of more than 43,000 people collected in 2000-01 under
the direction of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Research has shown that Americans generally tend to
drink less alcohol as they age. But these findings suggest that for
certain groups of older adults those with alcohol problems - alcohol
use actually increases, Ginzer said.
For this study, the researchers used the survey
results to classify heavy drinkers by age categories.
Two categories were of particular interest to the
researchers. Those in the alcohol abuse category were those who showed
mainly social-related problems related to their alcohol use, including
legal issues, and engaging in physically hazardous activities such as
driving after drinking.
Those in the alcohol dependence category showed
evidence of physiological problems related to their alcohol use, such as
increasing drinking and continued use even after physical or
psychological problems were apparent.
While adults over age 60 were less likely than
other groups to be in the abuse or dependence categories, those who were
in those categories tended to have higher drinking levels than did
younger problem drinkers.
For one, older problem drinkers drank more each
week than did others.
In addition, older people in the dependence
category had significantly more alcohol binges each month than did
younger people in the same category. Binges were defined as men having
five or more drinks in a day, or women having four or more drinks in a
day.
Those over age 60 in the alcohol dependence
category averaged 19 binges per month, while younger age groups in the
same category averaged 13 to 15 monthly binges.
More often than not, we think of binge drinking as
occurring among college students or those in their 20s, Richardson
said.
But the fact is, binge drinking occurs among older
people as well, and it is in fact worse among those who have problems
with alcohol. It is something that clinicians and researchers need to
consider.
Overall, binge drinking was greater among all
adults who were in the alcohol abuse category than it was among other
adults who reported drinking seven or more drinks a week, but did not
fall into the problem categories.
That suggests binge drinking may be a better
measure of problem drinking than just the total amount of drinks someone
has per week, Ginzer said.
Nov. 20, 2009 - Older adults who have alcohol
dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who
have similar problems, a new study has found. Those over age 60 gulp
down more alcohol per drinking session and have more binge episodes that
younger Americans.
Two percent lower lung cancer risk with each glass of
red wine consumed per month