People Over 50 Are Struggling With Their Drinking. Here’s Why, and How to Get Help.

Written by SolutionPoint Behavioral Health

High-risk alcohol use is on the rise—and that includes seniors. 

According to SAMHSA, 20% of people aged 60-64 report binge-drinking: a concerning statistic, considering that alcohol abuse can impact seniors more than younger people. At SolutionPoint, we specialize in the treatment of alcohol abuse and substance use disorder for those of older generations, so we’ve created the guide below to help you and your loved ones stay educated. 

Why Now?

There are several reasons why alcohol abuse might take hold later in life, even when it didn’t in someone’s younger years. According to AARP:

“Those of us who are 50 and older may be facing down menopause and fears of aging, dealing with the loneliness of an empty nest, grappling with the loss of a spouse or end of a marriage through divorce, or struggling with caring for an elderly parent.”

People over 50 may also be using alcohol to cope with physical pain, the stress of career growth, company leadership, and hormone shifts. On top of that, it may become easier to hide drinking behaviors if someone has more disposable income or more time on your hands. Unfortunately, alcoholism in this age group often goes undiagnosed.

Why Not?

If an older adult is dealing with high-functioning alcoholism, the problem may not seem like a problem at all. In the U.S., heavy drinking is still socially acceptable—especially if someone doesn’t appear to be suffering. The truth is harder to accept: people over 50 are actually at increased risk when they abuse alcohol. 

Sensitivity to Alcohol

As we age, we experience physiological changes that can impact how our bodies process alcohol. Our bodies tend to lose water and muscle mass and gain fat—all of which influence the distribution of alcohol in the body. Reduced liver and kidney function can also slow the metabolism and elimination of alcohol. All of this means that the same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect on an older person than it does on a younger one. Plus, the capacity to recover from the effects of alcohol diminishes with age, leading to worse hangovers.

Medication Interactions

Medications tend to become more common as we age. Alcohol can interact with many of these medications, which can potentially lead to harmful health effects. The effect of alcohol on the body can emphasize or void some medications, so it’s crucial to tell your doctor if you’re abusing alcohol. Medication interactions can also increase the risk of falls, memory issues, heart problems, internal bleeding, and in severe cases, death.

Health Problems

The health risks of those over fifty abusing alcohol are numerous. Heavy drinking can raise your blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease. It can also worsen liver disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, memory disorders, mood disorders, and sleep problems. It can reduce the immune system's effectiveness, making it harder for the body to fight off illness, and it can increase the risk of certain types of cancers, such as mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast cancer.

Your Solution

At SolutionPoint Behavioral Health, we specialize in the treatment of people over 50. Our leadership team skews older, making us particularly attuned to the needs of over-50s folks, and giving us further expertise in treating those in the over-fifty age range. Plus, our gorgeous location in Palm Desert sits at the epicenter of a thriving senior community. 

It’s never too late to get help. Contact us today to start your beautiful second chapter.