Alcohol abuse and dependence are problems that have no prejudice when it comes to age. These are problems that are often overlooked by health care providers even though they are major causes of many adverse health effects in the elderly. Pharmacists can play a major role in the detection and treatment of alcohol dependence. This can be done by knowing the signs and symptoms of dependence that are unique to the elderly, determining the stage of the disease the elderly patient is in, and making an appropriate intervention.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams WL,Magruder-Habib K,Trued S,Broome HL.Alcohol abuse in elderly emergency department patients.J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992;40:1236-1240
2.
Adams WL,Yuan Z,Barboriak JJ,Rimm AA.Alcohol-related hospitalizations of elderly people.JAMA. 1993;270:6-9
3.
Whittington FJ.Making it better: Drinking and drugging in old age.Geriatrics. 1988;12:5-7
4.
Atkinson RM.Aging and alcohol use disorders: Diagnostic issues in the elderly.International Psychogeriatrics. 1990;2:55-72
5.
5.MendelsonJMelloN: Alcohol: Use and abuse in America. New York, 1994
6.
Adams WL,Yuan Z,Barboriak JJ,Rimm AA.Alcohol-related hospitalizations of elderly people. Prevalence and geographic variation in the United States.JAMA. 1993;270:1222-1225
7.
Schonfeld L,Dupree LW.Antecedents of drinking for early- and late-onset elderly alcohol abusers.Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1991;52:587-592
8.
Schmall VL,Gobeli CL,Stiehl REAlcohol problems in later life. Oregon: Pacific Northwest Extension Publication; 1993:
9.
Schonfeld L,Dupree LW.Older problem drinkers—long-term and late-life onset abusers: What triggers their drinking.Aging. 1990;361:5-11
10.
10.LamyPP: Actions of alcohol and drugs in older people. Generations Alcohol and Drugs, Summer: 9-13, 1988
11.
Lamy PP.Alcohol misuse and abuse among the elderly.Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy. 1984;18:649-651
12.
Willenbring M,Spring WD.Evaluating alcohol use in elders.Aging. 1990;361:22-25
13.
Marion TR,Sefanik-Campisi C.The elderly alcoholic: Identification of factors that influence the giving and receiving of help.Perspectives. 1989;3:8-35
14.
Pagliaro LA,Pagliaro AM.The phenomenon of substance abuse among the elderly.Journal of Pharmacy Technology. 1992;8:65-73
15.
Bercsi SJ,Brickner PW,Dhanonjoy SC.Alcohol use and abuse in the frail, homebound elderly: a clinical analysis of 303 persons.Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 1993;33:139-149
16.
King CJ,Van Hasselt VB,Segal DL,Hersen M.Diagnosis and assessment of substance abuse in older adults: Current strategies and issues.Addictive Behaviors. 1994;19:41-55
17.
Ewing JA.Detecting alcoholism: the CAGE questionnaire.JAMA. 1984;252:1905-1909
18.
Buchsbaum DG.Screening for Alcohol Abuse Using CAGE Scores and Likelihood Ratios.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1991;115:774-777
19.
Adams WL,Barry KL,Fleming MF.Screening for problem drinking in older primary care patients.JAMA. 1996;276:1964-1967
20.
Hinrichsen JJ.Elderly alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous.Aging. 1990;361:13-17
21.
21.AtkinsonRMTolsonRLTurnerJA: Factors affecting outpatient treatment compliance of older male problem drinkers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 102-6, Jan 1993
22.
Liskow BI,Rinck C,Campbell J,DeSouza C.Alcohol withdrawal in the elderly.Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1989;50 (5): 414-421
23.
Prochaska JO,DiClemente CC,Norcross JC.In Search of How People Change: Applications to Addictive Behaviors.American Psychologist. 1992;47:1102-1114
24.
Cargiulo T.Alcohol abuse in the elderly.PharmAlert. 1996;22 (3): 1-3
25.
McDuff DR,Tommasello AC,Hoffman KJ,Johnson JL.Addictions training for physicians and other licensed health care professionals in Maryland.Maryland Medical Journal. 1995;44 (6): 363-369