New Study Suggests Alcohol Abuse Is A Public Health Crisis For Older Americans

According to a recent federal study, adult drinking in the U.S. has become a "public health crisis" in the past decade. The steepest rise is among those 65 and older. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry and sponsored in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol(NIAAA) says, the increase in alcohol use in high-risk drinking behavior and in alcohol abuse and dependence for those 65-plus was at least double that of the general population. The JAMA Psychiatry article stated the increases were "substantial and unprecedented relative to earlier surveys". In the number of adults 65 and over there was a 100% increase. These individuals are described as having "alcohol use disorder". The term was defined by NIAAA. It is characterized as compulsive alcohol use and a negative emotional state when not using alcohol. The causes of the increase were not included in the study. One possible factor is baby boomers had higher levels of drinking and drug use in past research. Now that they are aging, they are bringing the addictions along with them. Recent economic stressors on older Americans is another possibility for the increase. The lead author of the study, Bridget Grant said, "The 2008 recession had a toll on the most vulnerable".