CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Alcohol
3. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
4. Barriers to Recognizing Problems
5. Signs and Symptoms of Misuse
6. Talking About Sensitive Issues
7. Assessing a Problem
8. Preventing Misuse
9. Intervention and Treatment

Supplements
Resources

Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Introduction

Millions of older adults have problems with alcohol and medications. Many more of us are directly affected by these problems in older adults we know. We can help those we care about to confront the issues. Understanding alcohol and medication misuse and recognizing the signs and symptoms are a first step.

What really is a "drinking problem?" And how will you know if alcohol is causing the problems you may be seeing?

Doctors have a list of criteria to determine if someone has drug or alcohol dependency. These criteria do not always apply to older adults. This can make diagnosing a substance abuse problem more difficult. Quantity isn't always a way to tell if a problem exists. Even one alcoholic drink a day may be dangerous for an older adult. The alcohol can interact with a current medication and make the older person sick. Alcohol also can increase confusion and memory loss.

Drinking alcohol becomes a problem when it brings negative consequences, either to the drinker or to others. Negative consequences can be medical, psychological, or social.

If you are concerned about an older adult, look at the following list. If you see common signs and symptoms, you should consider a problem with alcohol or other medications.

Remember that the signs of substance abuse are similar to signs for many other health problems (such as stroke, dementia, depression, and anxiety). Signs of substance abuse can look the same as signs of the normal aging process. Do not jump to conclusions, but do seek a doctor's advice.