GSU HBSE II Alcoholism in Late Adulthood

ALCOHOLI

SM IN

LATE

ADULT

HOOD

ANITA KIERCEJUANITA FLORENCE

ALYSIA THOMAS MICHEAL WEATHERSPOON

TEAM SUBSTANCE ABUSE

DEMOGRAPHICS

• 88.5 million adults over 65 by 2050

• A national 2008 survey found that about 40 percent of adults ages 65 and older drink alcohol.

• adults over the age of 65 binge drink most often.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

• Alcohol metabolizes more slowly in older individuals compared to individuals in young and middle adulthood.

• Alcohol can worsen chronic diseases related to aging.

• Alcohol abuse can easily go unnoticed in late adulthood, (Loukissa, 2007).

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

• Individuals who reflect on their lives with disappointment, repentance, underachievement, etc., may have a more difficult journey transitioning into late adulthood.

• Loukissa (2007) stated that due to the variety of biological, psychological, and social changes associated with late adulthood, individuals are exposed to a unique vulnerability to alcohol use disorders.

CULTURAL ISSUES

• TREATMENT

• SIXTIES CULTURE

• LANGUAGE

FAMILY ISSUES

• CHALLENGES

• SECLUSION

• STRESSFUL INTERACTION

• SUPPORTS

SOCIAL FACTORS• FAMILY

• PEERS

• PARTNER DRINKING

• NEIGHBORHOOD

• CO-WORKERS

• LIFE CHANGES

• POVERTY

• HOMELESSNESS

• EDUCATION

• AFFORDABLE

• END STIGMATIZATION OF ALCOHOL

• ADVOCATE

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS • Levinson’s theory

concentrates on the correlation between life structures and the individual’s environment.

• Life structures include, but are not limited to education, politics, friends, status, roles, activities, values, and religion.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS

• Activity theory is “viewed as a transition where an individual commits to something other than their work or career” (Rogers, 2013).

• The application of this theory could be a path that overcomes social barriers that create a decline in activities.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

SIMILARITIES

• Young, middle and old adults drink primarily for the effect produced by alcohol.

• Despite your, age alcoholism is an equal opportunity disease.

• Alcohol has physical affects whether you are a Young, middle, or older adult

DIFFERENCES

• Marijuana is most commonly used Drug amongst young/ middle adults, while alcohol is the most commonly used drug amongst older adults.

• Young/middle adults will show less inhibition, verse older adults who show more inhibition regarding alcohol use.

• and middle Social drinking tends to impair older adults more than young adults.

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONSPrevention -Community

Organization

Intervention-Family Intervention Policy-Alcohol

Laws

SUMMARY

The journey we endured through the duration of this project was definitely that of a life learning

experience. From learning the realities of late adulthood to learning about each other, we

understand that we take with us new knowledge that will heavily contribute to our future social

work careers. We hope that our fellow colleagues have learned from our research as much as we

have from theirs. Thank you for listening.

Team Substance Abuse