The Prevalence of Harmful and Hazardous Alcohol Consumption in Older U.S. Adults: Data from the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Abstract:BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption and its interaction with disease, medication use, and functional status may result in serious health problems, but little information exists about the national prevalence of alcohol-related health risk in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol use and the prevalence of consumption in excess of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations, in people aged 65 and older, and by sex and race/ethnicity sub-gro… Show more
“…20 Older adults with health problems tend to reduce substance use, and ex-drinker older adults tend to include "sick quitters" who may have quit drinking due to health/mental health and alcoholrelated problems over the course of their lives 21 However, significant numbers of older adults continue to engage in harmful/hazardous drinking behaviors. 22 Given aging-and disease-related physiological changes, even relatively low levels of alcohol or drug use may exacerbate health and MH problems in older adults. [23][24][25] Alcohol-and drug-related problems that do not meet SUD criteria may also pose barriers to seeking MH services as older adults may use these substances to cope with MH problems, and substance use/ misuse can compromise MH treatment outcomes.…”
This study's key finding is the lower likelihood of mental health treatment use among lifetime abstainers in both age groups. Further research may identify barriers to treatment use and ways to promote use among both age groups.
“…20 Older adults with health problems tend to reduce substance use, and ex-drinker older adults tend to include "sick quitters" who may have quit drinking due to health/mental health and alcoholrelated problems over the course of their lives 21 However, significant numbers of older adults continue to engage in harmful/hazardous drinking behaviors. 22 Given aging-and disease-related physiological changes, even relatively low levels of alcohol or drug use may exacerbate health and MH problems in older adults. [23][24][25] Alcohol-and drug-related problems that do not meet SUD criteria may also pose barriers to seeking MH services as older adults may use these substances to cope with MH problems, and substance use/ misuse can compromise MH treatment outcomes.…”
This study's key finding is the lower likelihood of mental health treatment use among lifetime abstainers in both age groups. Further research may identify barriers to treatment use and ways to promote use among both age groups.
“…2 2 In the context of drug consumption, the media is indicated as a contributory factor for the naturalization of alcohol consumption, as revealed by the following statements:…”
Section: It Is So Common That You Do Not Treat Alcohol Itself As a Dmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…2 2 The speeches also highlight the concern about alcohol consumption, as it is considered a gateway to other drugs. 1 In general, the descriptions reveal the complexity of the alcohol consumption phenomenon, whose influence is the sociocultural, political, economic, ethical-legal context, among other dimensions.…”
Section: The Naturalization Of Alcohol Is Coming Into Our House Thromentioning
confidence: 99%
“…1 In the United States, a study showed that 34.7% of older adults had a harmful consumption pattern and 17.9% of them reported drinking daily, or almost daily. 2 In Brazil, the situation has not been different; a research developed by the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (NADS), in partnership with other agencies, detected that in 2005, 12.3% of Brazilians surveyed between 12 and 65 years of age were found to be alcohol dependents, and 74.6% %, had already consumed in the social sphere. 3 In the state of São Paulo, a study with adolescents from public schools found that 55.3% of the boys and 61.6% of the girls had already consumed alcoholic beverages.…”
Objetivo: compreender a percepção de integrantes do Rotary Clube sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. Métodos: estudo fenomenológico em Maurice Merleau-Ponty; realizado em duas unidades do Rotary Clube no interior da Bahia, Brasil, nos meses de setembro a dezembro de 2014, com 12 participantes. As descrições vivenciais foram produzidas mediante Grupo Focal e submetidas à técnica Analítica da Ambiguidade. Resultados: os participantes revelaram: reconhecer o álcool como uma droga apenas se consumido de forma excessiva, cotidiana e que cause danos à saúde; que o consumo da substância encontra-se naturalizado, ao ponto de passar despercebido diante de vários contextos sociais; e que a mídia tem contribuído para essa naturalização. Conclusão: trata-se de uma situação preocupante no contexto da saúde, uma vez que situa as pessoas que consomem bebidas alcoólicas de forma “sociável” à margem das políticas de prevenção e enfrentamento, o que torna necessário fomentar debates públicos sobre a temática.
“…1 Based on the amount consumed, they found that 15 % of older drinkers exceeded recommended limits, but when other health characteristics were taken into account, drinking was potentially harmful in over one-third of those who drank. Wilson's findings are not new; they are similar to results reported in previous studies that included both the amount and the subject's health characteristics in judging the healthiness of drinking.…”
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