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NIH Senior Health, USA has released a report specifically tailored to the topic of alcohol use among older adults (65+). The report explains the health risks involved  such as precautions for people who shouldn’t drink while taking certain prescription medications. The report also includes information on the increase risk of substance abuse and how rehabilitation help can be found for those who develop a problem.

The report revealed that some older adults whose drinking habits have remained consistent over the years, even decades, may find that they develop problems as they get older. This is due to the fact that aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. Because of this, Dr. Kenneth Warren, acting director of NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, says, “older adults may experience the effects of alcohol, such as slurred speech or lack of coordination, more quickly than when they were younger.”

This is because as the human body gets older its ability to metabolize or break down alcohol becomes slower. Thus it stays in the body longer than it does a younger human body. As a result, this increases an older adult’s sensitivity to the effects of alcohol. For example a senior male of the same weight as a younger male will have a higher percentage of alcohol in his blood after they both consume a glass of wine. One explanation for this, is that the amount of water in the body lowers as we age.

Because an older adult may be more sensitive to the effects of drinking, their risk for alcohol abuse also increases. Alcohol use can also become problematic for older adults if they are taking certain prescription medications or have certain existing health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension/high blood pressure, liver problems, etc, which alcohol use can exacerbate.

The 2010 revised alcohol section of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report included some alarming changes. The guidelines would radically alter the definition of “moderate drinking” by increasing the daily consumption suitable for men and women, despite lack of randomized studies on the health effects of alcohol consumption. Many addiction specialist are protesting this potentially dangerous public health message.

Previous Dietary Guidelines for alcohol consumption outlines the “safest” amount being two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. The 2010 Advisory report proposed guidelines based on average, rather than daily, consumption. And the report defined “moderate” (a.k.a. “safe”) drinking as up to four drinks per day for men and three drinks per day for women (so long as the average limits are not exceeded: 3 days a week or less).

However, specialists worry that by relaxing these guidelines some may increase their drinking to these new levels (doubling daily intake for men and tripling it for women), and find the new guidelines to be neither safe nor desirable from a public health perspective. Currently, four drinks for men and three drinks for women fall just short of amount defined as “binge” drinking. However, epidemiologic studies have found an increased risk for unintentional injuries (car crashes) as well as chronic diseases and substance abuse with these levels of drinking. This is especially true for women. We’ve posted before on this blog the dangers that alcohol pose for women. Click here to read how that second glass of wine can actually have the adverse effects of the first one.

With no evidence supporting that 4/3 drinking guidelines are safer than 2/1, many find these proposed guidelines to be ill-advised with the possibility for adverse social consequences. And they are encouraging those in the drug and alcohol field to speak up against these changes.

According to a recent study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hospital emergency visits dealing with underage drinking nearly double during the 4th of July Holiday weekend. The number of underage drinking-related visits to the emergency room are 87 percent higher this weekend than any other day in July.

In light of this information, SAMHSA reiterates the importance of reminding youth that underage drinking is not a harmless right of passage. It can have serious consequences with the potential of harming oneself, another, or even death. Because parents are the frontline force in preventing underage drinking, they are a key element in the prevention of underage alcohol use. It’s important to also remember that the earlier a teen begins drinking, the more they are at risk for developing substance abuse problems later in life. In fact, more than 4 out of ten people who begin drinking before the age of 15, develop substance abuse problems.

According to reports, 40 percent of kids have tried alcohol by the time they reach the eighth grade. It’s important for parents to remember three rules of frontline prevention (SAMHSA): talk early, talk often, and get others involved.

Talk Early: 70 percent of kids say their parents are the reason they don’t drink. Talk to your kids about the health and safety risk of drinking when young. It’s also important to get your kids talking to you. Find out what your kids social influences are, so you can help them build defenses.

Talk Often: One conversation isn’t enough to fully explain the dangers of alcohol at such a young age, or to help your child build the tools to be able to say no. By making it a regular topic of discussion, a child will feel more comfortable about talking with a parent about underage drinking.

Get Others Involved: More than 70 percent of eight graders said that alcohol was easy to get from family or friends. And though parents are the frontline, it’s important that they recruit others to be active and positive role models in their child’s life. Talk to other family members, the school, other parents, peers, and community members. Make sure to let them know where you stand on underage drinking. Share the facts with them!
Have a safe and sunny 4th of July!