Alcohol, Tobacco, and Nonmedical Drug Use in Older U.S. Adults: Data from the 2001/02 National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions

Abstract

Objectives To examine the prevalence and sociodemographic and health-related correlates of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco and non-medical drug use, among adults aged 65 years and older. Design Cross-sectional, retrospective survey of a population-based sample, the 2001-02 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) Setting United States Participants Eight thousand two hundred and five US adults aged 65 years of age and older. Measurements Prevalence of lifetime and past 12-month alcohol use, tobacco use, and non-medical drug use and associations among substance use and sociodemographic and health-related factors. Findings Almost 80% of older adults had used any of the three substances over their lifetimes and more than 50% reported such use over the past 12-months. Alcohol was the most commonly used substance both over the lifetime (74%) and in the past 12-months (45%), followed by tobacco (52% lifetime and 14% past 12-month use); far fewer reported non-medical use of drugs (5% lifetime and 1% past 12-month use). In general, being younger, male, and divorced or separated were factors consistently associated with use of any of the three substances compared to being older, female, and married. Conclusions Most older adults use substances both over their lifetimes and in the past 12-months. Alcohol is the substance of choice for this age group, followed by tobacco; few report non-medical drug use.

Tobacco Use and Associated Factors in Older Adults in South Africa

“…Some findings such as divorced or separated (Moore et al, 2009) for daily current tobacco use and female gender for the inability to quit smoking (Agrawal et al, 2008) were in agreement with other studies. Unlike in some other studies (Kim et al, 2007;Hirayama et al, 2008;Moore et al, 2009, Peer et al, 2009Malawi (Ministry of Health [Malawi] and World Health Organisation, 2010;Negin et al, 2011;Blazer & Wu, 2012) , this study did not find any effect of gender and age on current daily Tobacco Use in Older Adults 285 tobacco use. Since more men than women quit tobacco use before reaching older age, it seems similar rates of tobacco use between older men and women persist.…”

Substance use disorders and psychiatric comorbidity in mid and later life: a review

“…9 25 specifically examined adults aged 65þ (n ¼ 8205) in the 2000-01 NESARC; 3.5% of the sample reported any lifetime use of illicit or nonmedical drugs and 1.1% reported any past-year use of illicit or nonmedical drugs. In addition, only 0.6% of adults aged 65þ had a lifetime drug use disorder (cannabis, 0.21%; opioids, 0.16%; tranquillizers, 0.13%; amphetamine, 0.11%; sedatives, 0.07%), and 0.2% had a past-year drug use disorder.…”

Functioning of Alcohol Use Disorders Criteria Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Implications for DSM-5

“…Alcohol is the substance of choice among older Americans (Moore et al, 2009), and while alcohol use declines overall as we age (Moos, Schutte, Brennan, & Moos, 2009), the 2001/2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) revealed that among adults aged 65 years and older, 45% had used alcohol in the past year (Moore et al, 2009). The estimated prevalence of AUDs among individuals 65 years and older ranges from 1% to 9% in the general population (e.g., Grant et al, 2004;Thomas & Rockwood, 2001), and 10% to 15% among older adults presenting to hospital emergency rooms (e.g., Adams, Magruder-Habib, Trued, & Broome, 1992).…”