BMJ 1994;308:608-609 (5 March)

Editorials

Misuse of alcohol or drugs by elderly people

Between 5% and 12% of men and 1-2% of women in their 60s are problem drinkers.1 The rates are substantially higher among hospital outpatients and people attending clinics.2 A study of 1070 elderly men and women selected from general practice lists showed that nearly one fifth of both sexes who were regular drinkers exceeded the recommended limits.3

Both the quantity of alcohol drunk and the frequency of drinking by elderly men - and so the frequency of problems related to alcohol - are higher than those in elderly women.4 On average elderly people drink less than younger people, but aging does not always modify drinking behaviour, and excessive alcohol use may simply be carried into old age. The trend for elderly people to reduce alcohol consumption seems to be less noticeable in women. Elderly people are less tolerant of the adverse effects of alcohol owing to a fall in the . . . [Full text of this article]


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  • Dar, K. (2006). Alcohol use disorders in elderly people: fact or fiction?. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 12: 173-181 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Guly, H. (2004). Substance abuse and the trauma patient. Trauma 6: 205-210 [Abstract]  
  • Phillips, P., Katz, A. (2001). Substance misuse in older adults: An emerging policy priority. Journal of Research in Nursing 6: 898-905 [Abstract]  
  • Lisi, D. M. (1997). Alcoholism in the Elderly. Arch Intern Med 157: 242-243 [Abstract]  
  • Bird, R H (1996). Depression in carers of elderly people living at home. BMJ 312: 1224-1224 [Full text]  
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