Alcohol Use and Abuse in Old Age:

Abstract

Alcohol use and abuse among the elderly is a serious problem surrounded by confusion. Traditionally older problem drinkers have been divided into two categories: Type I, individuals who have drunk excessively throughout life yet survived to old age and Type II, individuals whose problem drinking began late in life. An extensive renew of the research produced some paths to late-onset problem drinking but only a weak profile of the Type II alocholic. Popular situational factors purported to be the triggers for late-onsest abuse have mixed support and no clear causal theory has yet been delineated. A number of alternative theories deserve further attention. Current information does not support the usefulness of the Type II classification or traditional definitions of alcoholism for the late-onset abuser. Research and treatment efforts may need to be redirected to include male-female differences, and family conflicts with less emphasis on the disease model of alcoholism.