Older problem drinkers use more than younger abusers

Older adults with alcohol dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who have similar problems and are more likely to be binge drinkers, according to a new study.

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.
 
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.
 
“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.

Ms Ginzer conducted the study with Virginia Richardson, professor of social work at Ohio State. They presented their results at a meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.
 
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 2000-2001 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, Ms Ginzer said.

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.
 
Older problem drinkers drank more each week than did others and 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,” Professor 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.”