Substance Abuse

  • Larry W. Dupree
  • Lawrence Schonfeld
Chapter
Part of the The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging book series (SSAD)

Abstract

Substance abuse among older adults has been a problem of increasing concern over the past 25 years, with varying estimates of alcohol and drug abuse. Congress reports that 2.5 million older Americans have alcohol-related problems, and that 21% of people age 60 and older (“60+”) hospitalized for medical problems have a diagnosis of alcoholism, with related hospital costs of $60 billion per year (HR Rep. No. 852, 1992). Others estimate that 5% to 60% of older medical inpatients abuse alcohol (Atkinson, 1984; Curtis, Geller, Stokes, Levine, & Moore, 1989).

Keywords

Alcohol Abuse Drinking Behavior Problem Drinker American Geriatrics Society DHHS Publication 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Atkinson, R. M. (1984). Substance use and abuse in late life. In R. M. Atkinson (Ed.), Alcohol and drug abuse in old age (pp. 1–21). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press Monograph Series.Google Scholar
  2. Atkinson, R. M., Ganzini, L., & Bernstein, M. J. (1992). Alcohol and substance-use disorders in the elderly. In J. E. Birren, R. B. Sloan, & G. D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of mental health and aging (pp. 515–555). San Diego: Academic Press.Google Scholar
  3. Atkinson, R. M., Turner, J. A., Kofoed, L. L., & Toison, R. L. (1985). Early versus late onset alcoholism in older persons: Preliminary findings. Alcoholism, 9, 513–515.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Beck, A. (1972). Depression: Causes and treatment. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.Google Scholar
  5. Beers, M. H., Ouslander, J. G., Rollinger, I., Brooks, J., Ruben, D., & Beck, J. C. (1991). Explicit criteria for determining inappropriate medication use in nursing homes. Archives of Internal Medicine, 151, 1825–1832.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Bienenfeld, D. (1987). Alcoholism in the elderly. American Family Physician, 36, 163–198.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Burke, L. A., Jolson, H. M., Goetsch, R. A., and Ahronheim, J. C. (1992). Geriatric drug use and adverse drug event reporting in 1990: A descriptive analysis of two national data bases. In J. W. Rowe & J. C. Ahronheim (Eds.), Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics: Focus on medications and the elderly, (pp. 1–28). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
  8. Carstensen, L. L., Rychtarik, R. G., & Prue, D. M. (1985). Behavioral treatment of the geriatric alcohol abuser: A long term follow-up study. Addictive Behaviors, 10, 307–311.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Coons, S. J., Hendricks, J., & Sheahan, S. L. (1988). Self-medication with nonprescription drugs. Generations, 12, 22–26.Google Scholar
  10. Curtis, J. R., Geller, G., Stokes, E. J., Levine, D. M., & Moore, R. D. (1989). Characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of alcoholism in elderly patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 37, 310–317.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. Dupree, L. W., Broskowski, H., & Schonfeld, L. (1984). The Gerontology Alcohol Project: Abehavioral treatment program for elderly alcohol abusers. The Gerontologist, 24, 510–516.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Dupree, L. W., & Schonfeld, L. (1989). Treating late-life onset alcohol abuses: Demonstration through a case study. Clinical Gerontologist, 9, 65–67.Google Scholar
  13. Ellsworth, R. B. (1979). Personal Adjustment and Roles Skills (PARS) Scales. Roanoke, VA: Institute for Program Evaluation.Google Scholar
  14. Finlayson, R. E. (1984). Prescription drug abuse in older persons. In R. M. Atkinson (Ed.), Alcohol and drug abuse in old age (pp. 61–70). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.Google Scholar
  15. Folkman, S., Bernstein, L., & Lazarus, R. S. (1987). Stress processes and the misuse of drugs in older adults. Psychology and Aging, 2, 366–374.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Glantz, M. (1981). Predictions of elderly drug abuse. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 13, 117–126.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Hartford, J. T., & Samorajski, T. (1982). Alcoholism in the geriatric population. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 30, 18–24.Google Scholar
  18. H.R. Report No. 852, 102nd Congress, 2nd session. (1992). Alcohol abuse and misuse among the elderly.Google Scholar
  19. IMS America. (1990). National disease and therapeutic index. Plymouth Meeting, PA: Author.Google Scholar
  20. Janik, S. W., & Dunham, R. G. (1983). A nationwide examination of the need for specific alcoholism treatment programs for the elderly. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 44, 307–317.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  21. Jennison, K. M. (1992). The impact of stressful life events and social support on drinking among older adults: A general population survey. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 35, 99–123.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Kashner, T. M., Rodell, D. E., Ogden, S. R., Guggenheim, F. G., & Karson, C. N. (1992). Outcomes and costs of two VA impatient programs for older alcoholics. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 43, 985–989.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  23. Kelly, J. G., & O’Malley, K. (1992). Principles of altered drug handling in the elderly. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 2, 11–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Klein, L. E., German, P. S., & Levine, D. M. (1981). Adverse drug reactions among the elderly: A reassessment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 24, 525–530.Google Scholar
  25. Kofoed, L., Tolson, R., Atkinson, R. M., Toth, R., & Turner, J. (1987). Treatment compliance of older alcoholics: An elder-specific approach is superior to “mainstreaming.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 47–51.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  26. Lamy, P. (1982). Comparative pharmacokinetic changes and drug therapy in an older population. American Geriatrics Society (Suppl. 30), s11–s119.Google Scholar
  27. Landress, H. J., & Morck, M. A. (1984). Prevalence and risk of medication mismanagement by the elderly. Journal of the Florida Medical Association, 71, 261–266.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  28. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
  29. Marlatt, G. A. (1976). The drinking profile: A questionnaire for the behavioral assessment of alcoholism. In E. J. Mash & L. G. Terdal (Eds.), Behavior therapy assessment: Diagnosis, design, and evaluation. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
  30. Miller, P. M. (1976). Behavioral treatment of alcoholism. New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
  31. Moos, R. H., Brennan, P. L., Fondacaro, M. R., & Moos, B. S. (1990). Approach and avoidance coping responses among older problem and nonproblem drinkers. Psychology and Aging, 5, 31–40.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1990). Data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), Series 1, No. 9 (DHHS Publication No. ADM 90-1717). Rockville, MD: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
  33. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1992). Socioeconomic and demographic correlates of drug and alcohol use: Findings from the 1988 and 1990 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse (DHHS Publication No. ADM 92-1906). Rockville, MD: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
  34. National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (1990). National drug and alcoholism treatment unit survey (NDATUS). 1989 Main findings report (DHHS Publication No. ADM 91-1729). Rockville, MD: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
  35. Olins, N. J. (1985). Pharmacy interventions. In S. R. Moore & T. W. Teal (Eds.), Geriatric drug use: Clinical and social perspectives (pp. 22–33). New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
  36. Pascarelli, E. (1974). Drug dependence: An age-old problem compounded by old age. Geriatrics, 29, 209–225.Google Scholar
  37. Patterson, R. L., O’Sullivan, M. J., & Spielberger, C. D. (1980). Measurement of state and trait anxiety in elderly mental health clients. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 2, 89–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Reifler, B. V., Raskind, M., and Kethly, A. (1982). Psychiatric diagnoses among geriatric patients seen in an outreach program. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1, 220–223.Google Scholar
  39. Rimm, D., & Masters, J. (1974). Behavior therapy: Techniques and empirical findings. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
  40. Rosin, A. J., & Glatt, M. M. (1971). Alcohol excess in the elderly. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 32, 53–59.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  41. Schonfeld, L. (1992). Covert assertion as method for coping with pain and pain related behaviors. Clinical Gerontologist, 12, 17–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Schonfeld, L., and Dupree, L. W. (1991). Antecedents of drinking for early-and late-onset elderly alcohol abusers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 52, 587–591.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  43. Schonfeld, L., & Dupree, L. W. (1995). Treatment approaches for older problem drinkers. International Journal of the Addictions, 30, 1819–1842.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  44. Schonfeld, L., Dupree, L. W., & Rohrer, G. E. (1995). Age-related differences between younger and older alcohol abusers. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 1, 219–227.Google Scholar
  45. Schonfeld, L., Peters, R., & Dolente, A. (1993). Substance Abuse Relapse Assessment (SARA). Professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
  46. Schwartz, D., Wang, M., Zeitz, L., & Gross, M. E. W. (1962). Medication errors made by elderly chronically ill patients. American Journal of Public Health, 52, 2018–2029.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Simonson, W. (1984). Medications and the elderly. Rockville, MD: Aspen.Google Scholar
  48. Vestal, R. E., McGuire, E. A., Tobin, J. D., Andres, R., Norris, A. H., & Mezey, E. (1977). Aging and ethanol metabolism. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 21, 343–354.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  49. Wasson, J., Nierenberg, D., Landgraf, J., Whaley, F., Malenka, D., Johnson, D., Keller, A., & the Dartmouth Primary Care Coop. (1992). The effect of a patient questionnaire on drug-related symptoms in elderly outpatients. In J. W. Rowe & J. C. Ahronheim (Eds.), Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics: Focus on medications and the elderly (Vol. 10, pp. 109-125). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
  50. Wells-Parker, E., Miles, S., & Spencer, B. (1983). Stress experiences and drinking histories of elderly drunken-driving offenders. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 4, 429–437.Google Scholar
  51. Wiens, A. N., Menustik, C. E., Miller, S. I., and Schmitz, R. E. (1982–1983). Medical-behavioral treatment of the older alcoholic patient. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 9, 461–475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Wilcox, S. M., Himmelstein, D. U., & Woolhandler, S. (1994). Inappropriate drug prescribing for the community-dwelling elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association, 272, 292–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • Larry W. Dupree
    • 1
  • Lawrence Schonfeld
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Aging and Mental Health, Florida Mental Health InstituteUniversity of South FloridaTampaUSA

Personalised recommendations