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Baby Boomers Bring Drug Use Challenges
March 31st, 2011 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The number of 50+ year-old Americans with a substance use disorder is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2020. A recent report by Duke University Medical Center researchers reviews epidemiological findings focused on illicit drug use disorders and nonmedical use of prescription drugs by older adults. Alcohol abuse and dependence are excluded in order to isolate the “hidden” emerging problem of drug use in the over-50 population. The review states that the number of adults age 50 to 59 is growing, as large numbers of baby boomers reach 50 years or older. Surveys show that this “baby...
March 31st, 2011 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The number of 50+ year-old Americans with a substance use disorder is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2020. A recent report by Duke University Medical Center researchers reviews epidemiological findings focused on illicit drug use disorders and nonmedical use of prescription drugs by older adults. Alcohol abuse and dependence are excluded in order to isolate the “hidden” emerging problem of drug use in the over-50 population. The review states that the number of adults age 50 to 59 is growing, as large numbers of baby boomers reach 50 years or older. Surveys show that this “baby...
Good News for Senior Alcoholics
April 30th, 2008 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Much is known about the damaging effects of alcoholism on the cognitive (thinking) function of the brain. There is also a growing body of knowledge on how much recovery occurs with abstinence. However, there is little research available on cognitive functioning in very long term abstinent alcoholics, especially the elderly. This research examined 91 elderly abstinent alcoholics (EAA) (49 men and 42 women) with an average age of 67.3 years and who were abstinent for an average of 14.8 years. They were compared to a comparable light/non-drinking control group. The EAA group was divided...
April 30th, 2008 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Much is known about the damaging effects of alcoholism on the cognitive (thinking) function of the brain. There is also a growing body of knowledge on how much recovery occurs with abstinence. However, there is little research available on cognitive functioning in very long term abstinent alcoholics, especially the elderly. This research examined 91 elderly abstinent alcoholics (EAA) (49 men and 42 women) with an average age of 67.3 years and who were abstinent for an average of 14.8 years. They were compared to a comparable light/non-drinking control group. The EAA group was divided...
Women Are Drinking Less
August 31st, 2006 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
There has been a growing public concern about women’s drinking habits because current research in women’s health issues point to links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, higher risk of alcohol-related liver problems as compared with men, and the risks of fetal alcohol syndrome. There is also a fear that alcohol may pose an increased risk of physical assault. Given women’s role changes over the past several decades, stresses due to employment, and college and university environments in which heavy drinking occurs, it seems reasonable to expect that more and more women are...
August 31st, 2006 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
There has been a growing public concern about women’s drinking habits because current research in women’s health issues point to links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, higher risk of alcohol-related liver problems as compared with men, and the risks of fetal alcohol syndrome. There is also a fear that alcohol may pose an increased risk of physical assault. Given women’s role changes over the past several decades, stresses due to employment, and college and university environments in which heavy drinking occurs, it seems reasonable to expect that more and more women are...
Alcoholism May Not Be a Progressive Disease
January 31st, 2006 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Common hypotheses among researchers in the field of alcohol studies are that a set of symptoms associated with alcohol-use disorders progress in a sequential pattern and that there is a systematic progression from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence. But is there evidence that symptoms of alcohol use develop in an orderly fashion? Does the presence of a certain symptom indicate how far the disease has progressed? In a recent study of older, community-residing problem drinkers, researchers identified possible sequences of symptoms based on the average age of symptom onset, the average...
January 31st, 2006 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Common hypotheses among researchers in the field of alcohol studies are that a set of symptoms associated with alcohol-use disorders progress in a sequential pattern and that there is a systematic progression from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence. But is there evidence that symptoms of alcohol use develop in an orderly fashion? Does the presence of a certain symptom indicate how far the disease has progressed? In a recent study of older, community-residing problem drinkers, researchers identified possible sequences of symptoms based on the average age of symptom onset, the average...
Older Women Do Better in Treatment
April 30th, 2005 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Treatment of older adults – particularly older women – for alcohol dependence has received little research attention. This study, led by Dr. Derek Satre of UCSF, examined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of older alcohol-dependent men and women at a mixed-age, private outpatient chemical dependency program. Researchers drew data from two randomized studies conducted at the Kaiser Permanente Chemical Dependency Recovery Program in Sacramento between 1994 and 1996, and 1997 and 1998, gathering a final sample of 92 patients (63 males, 29 females), ages 55 to 77 years....
April 30th, 2005 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Treatment of older adults – particularly older women – for alcohol dependence has received little research attention. This study, led by Dr. Derek Satre of UCSF, examined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of older alcohol-dependent men and women at a mixed-age, private outpatient chemical dependency program. Researchers drew data from two randomized studies conducted at the Kaiser Permanente Chemical Dependency Recovery Program in Sacramento between 1994 and 1996, and 1997 and 1998, gathering a final sample of 92 patients (63 males, 29 females), ages 55 to 77 years....
Why There Are No Seniors In Beer Ads
August 31st, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
To determine trends in drinking patterns of men and women aged 60 and older, researchers analyzed five years of alcohol consumption data from the National Health Institute Surveys (NIHS). Previous studies of older drinkers measured the average number of drinks per day in order to examine the association of alcohol and health. In this study, quantity and frequency were measured separately so that researchers might find associations between these two separate measures and certain medical conditions. For example, two studies found that frequency of drinking was associated with the reduced risk...
August 31st, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
To determine trends in drinking patterns of men and women aged 60 and older, researchers analyzed five years of alcohol consumption data from the National Health Institute Surveys (NIHS). Previous studies of older drinkers measured the average number of drinks per day in order to examine the association of alcohol and health. In this study, quantity and frequency were measured separately so that researchers might find associations between these two separate measures and certain medical conditions. For example, two studies found that frequency of drinking was associated with the reduced risk...
Older Patients Do OK in Community-Based Treatment
April 30th, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
The number of patients 55 years or older with alcohol use problems has increased. There is concern that these older patients may not receive the same quality of treatment as do younger patients, especially in community-based facilities. In contrast to hospitals, community settings have relatively fewer older patients, lower levels of professional staffing, and a wide range of treatment services, and might consequently be biased in their treatment of older individuals. A recent study compared older (55–77 years of age), middle-aged (40–54), and young (24–39) male veterans who...
April 30th, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
The number of patients 55 years or older with alcohol use problems has increased. There is concern that these older patients may not receive the same quality of treatment as do younger patients, especially in community-based facilities. In contrast to hospitals, community settings have relatively fewer older patients, lower levels of professional staffing, and a wide range of treatment services, and might consequently be biased in their treatment of older individuals. A recent study compared older (55–77 years of age), middle-aged (40–54), and young (24–39) male veterans who...
Golden Years: Abuse Will Grow
April 30th, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Nearly three times as many individuals with alcohol and drug problems smoke cigarettes when compared to the general population. Despite these statistics, alcohol and illicit drug abuse in the United States has historically been associated with young populations. Use/abuse typically wanes with increasing age, due to either “maturing out” or higher mortality rates among abusers and addicts. However, research that shows relatively high alcohol and drug use among “baby boomers” (born from 1946 to 1964), in conjunction with the sheer size of that group, raises concerns about future...
April 30th, 2004 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Nearly three times as many individuals with alcohol and drug problems smoke cigarettes when compared to the general population. Despite these statistics, alcohol and illicit drug abuse in the United States has historically been associated with young populations. Use/abuse typically wanes with increasing age, due to either “maturing out” or higher mortality rates among abusers and addicts. However, research that shows relatively high alcohol and drug use among “baby boomers” (born from 1946 to 1964), in conjunction with the sheer size of that group, raises concerns about future...
Alcohol Dependence and Elderly Suicides
October 31st, 2003 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Past studies of suicides among young and mixed-aged groups have shown that 25 – 55% of the individuals suffered from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse. Similar studies of suicides among the elderly, however, have reported a wide range of figures. In an effort to assess the suicide risk associated with alcohol use in elderly men and women, researchers involved in a recent study in Sweden interviewed family members of 85 suicide victims. They examined the victim’s life events, use of alcohol and illicit drugs, mental and physical health, history of suicidal behavior and other related...
October 31st, 2003 / Elderly / Betty Ford Institute
Past studies of suicides among young and mixed-aged groups have shown that 25 – 55% of the individuals suffered from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse. Similar studies of suicides among the elderly, however, have reported a wide range of figures. In an effort to assess the suicide risk associated with alcohol use in elderly men and women, researchers involved in a recent study in Sweden interviewed family members of 85 suicide victims. They examined the victim’s life events, use of alcohol and illicit drugs, mental and physical health, history of suicidal behavior and other related...
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