Alcoholism is a problem that effects over 5.6 per cent of our population. It can be said that the desire to alter reality is probably one of the oldest persistent, and acceptable of human needs. Given the right circumstances the mood-changing and stress relieving qualities of alcohol seem warranted. The old, lonely, on a fixed income, frightened, bored and alone have the right circumstance for abusing alcohol. Recent evidence has shown that an alarming number of elderly are becoming dependent on alcohol. Programs to intercept the disease of alcoholism are mounting. Public education is needed to make individuals aware of this growing crisis in our society.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Report on the Governor's Conference on Alcohol Problems, Americana Hotel, New York, New York, November 10, 1971.
2.
Nassau-Suffolk Health Systems Agency 1980 Plan for Alcoholism, March 12, 1980.
3.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Facts about Alcohol and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland, 1975.
4.
MathiasC. McM.Jr., Senator, Improving The Quality of Life for the Elderly, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, XXVII: 9, September 1979.
5.
ButlerN. R. M.D., Why Survive — Being Old in America, Harper & Row, 1975.
6.
Elderly Drinking Patterns are Studied, Alcoholism Newsletter, 1: 3, New York State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, May 1979.
7.
WackerB., Alcohol a Problem Among the Edlerly, Newsday, p. 6, February 22, 1980.
8.
Alcohol Topics in Brief, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, November 1978.
9.
RosenblattA. and DuckworthL. G., Healping the Elderly Alcoholic, Social Casework, May 1976.
10.
LandersA., Dear Ann Landers, Newsday, April 8, 1980.
11.
ZimbergS. M.D., The Elderly Alcoholic, The Gerontologist, June 1974.
12.
Rathbone-McCuanE. and BlandJ., A Treatment Typology for the Elderly Alcohol Abuser, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, XXIII: 12, 1975.
13.
Passed Over … The Older Alcoholic, Prime Times, 2: 6, Early Winter 1979.
14.
SniderJ., Alcoholism Programs Assailed, Newsday, p. 29, March 26, 1980.
15.
Alcohol and Health, Second Report to U. S. Congress, U. S. DHEW, Public Health Service, N1AAA, 1974.
16.
ButlerN. R. and MyrnaL. I., Aging and Mental Health, C. V. Mosby Company, 1977.
17.
FerneauE. and PaineH. J., Attitudes Regarding Alcoholism: The Volunteer Alcoholism Clinic Counselor, Brit. J. Addict., 67, 1972.
18.
GlennH. S., Toward Understanding Prevention, Presented at the 28th Annual Meeting A.D. P.A., Detroit, Michigan, 1977.
19.
Health Communications, Inc., An Emerging Issue — The Female Alcoholic, Miami, Florida, 1977.
20.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Developing Community Services for Alcoholics, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., 1974.
21.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Seminar on Alcoholism Emergency Care Services, DHEW Publication No. (ADM) 76-254, 1975.
22.
PellS. and D'AlonzoC. A., A Fire Year Mortality Study of Alcoholics, Journal of Occupational Medicine, 15, 1973.
23.
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Healthy People — Background Papers, DHEW Publication No. 79-55071A, 1979.
24.
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Healthy People, DHEW Publication No. 79-55071, 1979.
