The Epidemiology of At-Risk and Binge Drinking Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Community Adults: National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this article was to estimate the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of at-risk alcohol use (especially binge drinking) among middle-aged and elderly persons in the United States and to compare at-risk alcohol use between women and men. Method Secondary analysis of the 2005 and 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted for 10,953 respondents aged 50 years and older. Among respondents, 6,717 were 50 to 64 years of age and 4,236 were ≥65 years. Social and demographic variables, alcohol use (including at-risk use), binge drinking, serious psychological distress, and self-rated health were assessed. Results Overall, 66% of male respondents and 55% of female respondents reported alcohol use during the past year. At-risk alcohol use and binge drinking were more frequent among respondents 50 to 64 years of age relative to respondents aged 65 years or older. In the ≥65 years old age group, 13% of men and 8% of women reported at-risk alcohol use, and more than 14% of men and 3% of women reported binge drinking. Among male subjects, binge drinking compared with no alcohol use was associated with higher income and being separated, divorced, or widowed, while being employed and nonmedical use of prescription drugs were associated with binge drinking compared with no alcohol use among women. For all respondents, binge drinking relative to no alcohol use was associated with the use of tobacco and illicit drugs. Among women who reported using alcohol, being African American and less educated were associated with binge drinking, but race/ethnicity and educational level were not associated with binge drinking in men who reported using alcohol. Conclusions At-risk and binge drinking are frequently reported by middle-aged and elderly adults nationwide and are therefore of public health concern. Clinicians working with middle-aged and older adults should screen for binge drinking and coexisting use of other substances.

Drinking Patterns of Older Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions

“…12 In a study using 2005 and 2006 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 13 % of men and 8 % of women aged 65 and older reported drinking two or more drinks per day. 13 Although low to moderate levels of alcohol use can have health benefits, [14][15][16][17][18] the exact benefit dose is not known and may not be risk free. [19][20][21][22] While alcohol consumption within guidelines may be permissible in some individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, alcohol is not advised with certain prescription medications and can cause serious consequences.…”

Prevalencia y factores asociados al consumo de tabaco, alcohol y drogas en una muestra poblacional de adultos mayores del Distrito Federal

“…En conjunto, los inhalantes, alucinógenos, metanfetaminas y la heroína representaron un consumo por debajo del 0.2%. 21,26 El consumo de sustancias en adultos mayores de la Ciudad de México es menor cuando se compara con los resultados para la población de adultos (18 y 65 años) de la última Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones (ENA-2011) (Anexo 1). El consumo de alcohol alguna vez en la vida en la ENA en población adulta (77.1%) 2 fue 11.8% más alto en comparación con la estimación que se obtuvo en el presente estudio.…”

Características clínicas y demográficas de bebedores “por atracones” que se relacionan con una falta de eficacia de la intervención breve y el consejo médico

“…Nevertheless, the expectation that both can be reduced was confirmed in a pilot clinical trial to test the efficacy of an intervention aimed at decreasing both (Ames et al, 2014) in which it was observed that when the treatment was realized simultaneously and was also focused on smoking, after three and six months the patients continued not to smoke and also reduced the consumption of alcohol. Therefore, and despite the heterogeneous nature of these results, the existence of a special relationship between smoking and binge drinking appears to be consistent (Blazer and Wu, 2009). In our sample, the subjects at greater risk of continuing harmful alcohol use were smokers of 25 or more cigarettes per day, followed by ex-smokers and finally smokers of fewer than 10 cigarettes per day.…”