Alcoholism in Late Adulthood

1. TEAM SUBSTANCE ABUSE

2. • 88.5 million
adults over 65
by 2050
• A national 2008
survey found
that about 40
percent of
adults ages 65
and older drink
alcohol.
• adults over the
age of 65 binge
drink most
often.

4. • Alcohol metabolizes more
slowly in older individuals
compared to individuals
in young and middle
adulthood.
• Alcohol can worsen
chronic diseases related
to aging.
• Alcohol abuse can easily
go unnoticed in late
adulthood, (Loukissa, 2007
).

5. • Individuals who reflect on their
lives with disappointment,
repentance, underachievement,
etc., may have a more difficult
journey transitioning into late
adulthood.
• Loukissa (2007) stated that due to
the variety of biological,
psychological, and social
changes associated with late
adulthood, individuals are
exposed to a unique vulnerability
to alcohol use disorders.

6. •TREATMENT
•SIXTIES CULTURE
•LANGUAGE

7. • CHALLENGES
• SECLUSION
• STRESSFUL INTERACTION
• SUPPORTS

8. • FAMILY
• PEERS
• PARTNER DRINKING
• NEIGHBORHOOD
• CO-WORKERS
• LIFE CHANGES
• POVERTY
• HOMELESSNESS

9. • EDUCATION
• AFFORDABLE
• END STIGMATIZATION OF
ALCOHOL
• ADVOCATE

10. • Levinson’s theory
concentrates on the
correlation between life
structures and the
individual’s environment.
• Life structures include, but
are not limited to
education, politics, friend
s, status, roles, activities, v
alues, and religion.

11. • Activity theory is “viewed as
a transition where an
individual commits to
something other than their
work or career” (Rogers,
2013).
• The application of this theory
could be a path that
overcomes social barriers
that create a decline in
activities.

12. SIMILARITIES
• Young, middle and old adults drink primarily for the effect produced by
alcohol.
• Despite your, age alcoholism is an equal opportunity disease.
• Alcohol has physical affects whether you are a Young, middle, or older
adult
DIFFERENCES
• Marijuana is most commonly used Drug amongst young/ middle adults,
while alcohol is the most commonly used drug amongst older adults.
• Young/middle adults will show less inhibition, verse older adults who show
more inhibition regarding alcohol use.
• and middle Social drinking tends to impair older adults more than young
adults.

13. Prevention -Community Organization
Intervention-
Family InterventionPolicy-Alcohol Laws

14. The journey we endured through the duration of this project
was definitely that of a life learning experience. From
learning the realities of late adulthood to learning about
each other, we understand that we take with us new
knowledge that will heavily contribute to our future social
work careers. We hope that our fellow colleagues have
learned from our research as much as we have from theirs.
Thank you for listening.
Team Substance Abuse