Alcohol use among older persons in a rural state

Objective: Older individuals are vulnerable to adverse consequences from alcoholism; unfortunately, alcohol-related problems are often under-identified in this group. Methods: We characterized the demographic features of alcohol use among older adults (over age 65) in a statewide community survey. Results: Approximately 15% were at risk for alcoholism, As a group, the at-risk individuals were younger than the remaining sample. Twenty percent indicated that they had previously tried unsuccessfully to stop drinking, but only 10% bad received any type of treatment. Conclusion: This low rate of treatment intervention implies a need for enhanced recognition of alcoholism among older adults in rural settings.