Given the current growth of ageing populations, alcohol consumption among the elderly has received increased attention.

What is deemed to be a ‘safe’ level of consumption has also been thrown into question, in the light of new evidence of a link between alcohol and illness in later life.

Psychological changes associated with ageing mean that older adults may have a reduced tolerance to alcohol. They may also suffer from illnesses which are potentially worsened by consumption and are more likely to take prescription medicines that can interact with alcohol.

In this way, although evidence points to a general downward trend in consumption as people age, older adults are at an increased risk of adverse effects of even modest levels of alcohol intake.

Moreover, other factors such as increased loneliness in older age could affect consumption patterns.

A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports looks at the changes in alcohol consumption over a 3-year period among the over-60s in Spain, in order to better understand these issues and guide interventions to prevent excessive alcohol intake in later life. 

Among the study’s key findings were: 

• Social isolation was generally linked to risky drinking behaviours among both men and women. However, some women who increased their time spent reading over the 3-years reduced their alcohol intake over the same period. The same result was found for some men who increased their time spent watching TV. This may suggest that while social networks can help to rein in negative behaviours, lower social connectivity also means a reduction in social events at which drinking can occur. Indeed, male and female high-risk drinkers were more likely to reduce their alcohol intake after changing their meal habits from eating with others to eating alone.
• A reduction in BMI was more likely among those quitting alcohol during the 3-year period
• Smoking increased the likelihood of concurrent risky drinking behaviours among men
• A reduction in overall alcohol intake over the 3-year period was noted. However, almost a quarter of older adults at the end of the trail were still drinking substantial amounts. This could point to a lack of awareness – indeed scepticism - about the potential dangers of alcohol consumption among elderly populations. The researchers found this worrying, given the high prevalence of medical prescriptions about this age group.

These findings inform the researchers’ recommendations for prevention strategy in this area. They suggest that future interventions should:

• Address levels of scepticism about this age group
• Consider how gender affects alcohol consumption in later life
• Consider elderly populations as a highly diverse group and therefore customise prevention messages in line with specific concerns.
• Health campaigns targeting excessive drinking among older populations should aim to minimise the harmful effects of such behaviour while also maintaining the benefits of socialisation.

A new study published in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal focuses on an often-neglected topic – opioid use in older adults. This systematic literature review, Treatment for Opioid Use and Outcomes in Older Adults, included 76 papers on the topic of opioid use disorder, including misuse of prescription medication, and any interventions.

The researchers found that there were unclear definitions of “old” when conducting a review of existing literature in 2015 and a slant towards research focusing on the use of alcohol and prescription medications.

The team found a need for a review of existing literature due to increased rates of older drug users with many presenting for treatment for the first time when they have reached the ages of 50-70. This goes against a common belief that drug use and problematic drug use tapers off as people age. The study identified that the number of mature drug users has been “increasing internationally for the last 40 years”.

An important note from the research is the increase in older adults in the global population and with it the increase in the population of older drug users.

The paper also illuminates evidence of factors contributing to the increased number of older drug users which existing research suggests will be multifactor. One key development experienced by the 1950s “baby boomers” was an increased availability of drugs and an increased trend for illicit drug use amongst the demographic. There has also been an increase in the general life expectancy of the population and developments in medicine and treatment which include “improved access to healthcare, harm reduction and drug treatment services”. The effect of these factors is increased “longevity” of people who take drugs.

The harms resulting from problematic opioid are also reported to be higher than from other drugs. This can be noted with the increased focus of public health concern internationally for emerging “opioid epidemics” which are being witnessed in North America and many other parts of the world.  

Some key findings from the analysis of existing literature showed older adults accessing treatment to find more positive outcomes and for treatment to be most effective for older women.