The Alcohol in Old Age
Between 2 and 3 percent of alcoholics are over 65 years. In some cases, alcohol is the result of a long history of abuse, but most takes the form of an escape from a reality difficult to take.
While most of the research and efforts on the part of programs that fight addiction is often focused on those who fall into the clutches of alcoholism at an early age, this is a disease that can occur at any stage of life . With regard to the age group that includes people with more than 65 years, it is estimated that this represents about 2 or 3 percent of people suffering from addiction.
According to experts, the elderly 65 years of alcoholism can take two forms. The shape of the terminal alcohol is characterized by physical dependence, and that older people come after “a long career of 10, 15 or 20 years of constant drinking (but with a regular diet that allows survival ). These are often chronic alcoholics and have deteriorated quite characteristic signs such as memory loss and dementia, among others.
However, it is more common for abusers, elderly people with poor socioeconomic status, living alone and who are often rejected by their families, they use alcohol (usually poor) to get the effect of a drug. They use an addictive substance like alcohol to escape from a reality that can not bear.
The consequences
According to the Merck Manual: “Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by a tendency to drink more than they should, unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking and maintain the habit despite the adverse social and labor.”
What are the health effects of those who suffer from this disease? The long-term consequences of alcohol affect the body in many different ways. From a nutritional point of view, the decline in value of folic acid, iron and niacin accompanying alcoholism favor the emergence of anemia, skin lesions, diarrhea and depression.
The strength of the gastrointestinal disorders affecting the esophagus (inflammation and cancer), stomach (inflammation and ulcers), liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer) and the pancreas (pancreatitis, low levels of blood sugar and cancer).
As to cardiovascular complications, the main ones are arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension and atherosclerosis. While neurological consequences of alcoholism include a wide range that goes from mild to severe confusion, reduced coordination, limited short-term memory, deterioration of the nerves that control the movements of the arms and legs, psychosis and strokes.
With regard to the impact of dependency, both psychologically and physically, which generates the alcohol interferes with the ability to interact and work, and can also generate a large number of self-destructive behavior. The constant state of alcoholic intoxication is often the family and social relations, and statistics show that is a frequent cause of divorce. With regard to labor problems, absenteeism accompanying alcoholism is a proven cause of unemployment.
To stop drinking
For those elderly people suffering from alcoholism, it is important to respect the rules of conventional treatment, says Dr. Verruno. Today pharmacological treatment strategies are increasingly specific antidepressants, anxiolytics, aversive effects of drugs (disulfiram) and drugs that block the effect of “reward” that is causing the alcohol (acamprosate). The use of drugs should be done in the context of a broader treatment supervised by a specialist.
A resource that can be very effective to use those in the struggle to stop his addiction is self-help groups, among which is Alcoholics Anonymous. Such groups seeking to offer the patient a place to engage in social relationships outside the bar, drinking with friends, who then provide support when the need arises to drink and a relapse can occur.
As for the other group of older alcoholics, those who like young people use alcohol as an escape from a reality difficult to take, there is a breach, the company and / or the State must insert them into their dynamics.
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