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% had received any type of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This low rate of treatment intervention implies a need for enhanced recognition of alcoholism among older adults in rural settings.
Schultz
Susan K
SK
Dept of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA. susan-schultz@uiowa.edu
Arndt
Stephan
S
Lutz
Gene M
GM
Petersen
Amy
A
Turvey
Carolyn L
CL
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population