The hidden harms of using alcohol for pain relief in older adults. (30th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilson, Kim-Michelle; Bryant, Christina; Judd, Fiona
• Is Part Of: International psychogeriatrics. Volume 26:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1929
• Page End: 1930
• Publication Date: 2014-07-30
• Subjects: Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.9768905
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610214001513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1041-6102

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="text-abstract"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Estimates from population-based studies indicate that older adults drink more frequently than younger age groups. Data from the 2010 Australian national household survey reported that daily drinking was evident in 13.3% of older adults aged 60–69 years and in 14.8% of older adults aged 70+ years. These findings are compared to daily drinking rates reported by 10.1% of adults aged 50–59 years and 7.5% in the 40–49 years age range (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). The study of alcohol consumption in older adults is particularly important because of their increased sensitivity to alcohol-related harms. With age, the body's ability to process alcohol decreases as a result of physiological changes, such as decreases in body mass and higher levels of fatty tissue, leading to a higher blood alcohol concentration for a given dose compared with younger adults (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1998). This greater vulnerability to the effects of alcohol necessitates a stronger understanding of drinking practices in older adults.</p> </abstract>