Alcoholism among Older Adults
The American Heritage Dictionary (2000) defines alcoholism as a disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is also characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, mostly denial that the problem exists. It is important to take into consideration that the effects of alcohol abuse are drastically increased in the elderly, due to the physiological and psychological changes that occur with aging (American Medical Association, 1995).
An older adult is defined as a person 60 and older, although there is no specific age cut off at which all age related changes occur. The issue is rather subjective because all humans are different, thus a 70-year-old can have......
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