Binge drinking is a generational epidemic, but the dangerous habit is on the rise among certain age groups.
I have a long relationship with university students, binge drinkingDefined as drinking four or more drinks within two hours at least five times a month for women (five for men), it is increasing among older adults. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20% of adults ages 60 to 64 report binge drinking in the past month. Binge drinking rates among people aged 65 and older are 12%, and this rate has increased over the past decade, while rates among young people aged 18 to 25 have declined.
What’s behind this worrying trend? It could change the way we look at alcohol.
Dr. George F. Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said, “Older adults drink more frequently than those under 65,” and the proportion of people 65 and older who drink less than those who are 20 and older He added that the data shows that there are high There are more days in the month than between the ages of 18 and 64.
Today’s youth are increasingly embracing abstinence. one gallup survey It found that 65% of people aged 18 to 34 say alcohol is bad for their health, compared to 39% of people aged 55 and over.
Although the proportion of older adults who binge drink has increased slightly, the number of older adults in this age group will double over the next 40 years.
“As a result, even if the proportion of older adults who binge drink and eat remains the same, the number of older adults who binge drink and drink may continue to grow rapidly, increasing the burden on the health care system,” Korb said. says.
What are the dangers of heavy drinking for older adults?
For older people, the effects of alcohol are even stronger. The body’s ability to retain water decreases with age, so older people feel the effects of alcohol sooner. Older people also metabolize alcohol differently, Korb says.
“As we age, our bodies change, and these changes make us more susceptible to the harms caused by alcohol consumption,” Korb says. “Older drinkers show greater impairment than younger drinkers in some tasks, including driving performance, reaction time, memory, and balance.”
In addition, older people are more likely to have trouble keeping their balance, and their experience is diminished even without alcohol (falls being the most important problem). Main causes of injury (For people aged 65 and over).
“Research shows that injuries from falls caused by intoxication tend to be more severe than those from falls that do not involve alcohol,” Korb says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 40% of falls are alcohol-related, with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.10%.
Older adults are more likely to be taking multiple medications, including sleeping pills and other drugs, which can be dangerous when combined with alcohol.
Long-term binge drinking can increase your risk of alcohol use disorder, certain cancers, heart disease, and mental health disorders.
Questions to help assess your alcohol habits
Symptoms of binge drinking can be difficult to decipher, especially in older adults.
“Older drinkers are retired, live alone, and may be less sociable. As a result, their drinking may have less of an impact on things like work attendance and school performance. Yes,” he says.
Michigan Short Alcoholism Screening Test – Seniors Edition (SMAST-G) is one of the studies that helps assess the drinking habits of older adults. Below are some questions.
- Have you ever underestimated how much you drink when talking to others?
- Have you ever had a few drinks and then found yourself unable to eat or skip a meal because you weren’t hungry?
- Does having a few drinks help reduce tremors and tremors?
- Does drinking alcohol make it harder to remember parts of the day or night?
- Has a doctor or nurse ever told you they’re concerned about your drinking?
- Have you set any rules to control your drinking?
- Does drinking alcohol help you feel better when you feel lonely?
To learn more about how to assess your or your family’s drinking habits, visit: NIAAA Central Resource on Alcohol for Health Professionals.
