Adelaide: Concerns surrounding drug and alcohol consumption are widely discussed
in relation to youth but, according to a University of Adelaide
researcher, there is a need to explore this issue further with older
Australians. Dr Lynette Cusack says the elderly may not consume alcohol in the same quantities as
younger people, but they can suffer from a unique set of alcohol-related
health issues. “Older people don’t usually drink as much as
younger people in a single sitting but they can drink more regularly and
are more likely to drink alone. They can also underestimate the
quantities they consume,” says Dr Cusack.
“As people get older, chronic conditions and medication use increases, which can react badly with alcohol.
“Older people are also at an increased risk of fractures from falls because their muscles and bones are frailer,” she says.
Dr
Cusack says alcohol screenings in community settings would be useful to
help health professionals accurately identify alcohol consumption in
older people and the potential harmful effects.
“We don’t
currently have a universal tool for screening for a range of substances
including alcohol consumption of older Australians and their
understanding of how alcohol may impact their health,” says Dr Cusack.
“However,
such a tool is vital for over 65s to create awareness of the risks
associated with alcohol and to assist health professionals and
caregivers,” she says.
Dr Cusack is leading a study to evaluate a screening tool developed by the World Health Organization.
“ASSIST
tool (Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test) was
designed to screen for risky alcohol and drug use, and we have commenced
a small evaluation of the tool with the help of over 65s in
metropolitan Adelaide, regional South Australia and regional New South
Wales,” says Dr Cusack.
“The study will help us identify how we
might need to alter the layout, font size and language used in the
questionnaire, so that it can work more effectively for those over 65.
“Our
aim is to ultimately develop a tool, based on ASSIST, that can
accurately screen for substance use including alcohol drinking habits of
older Australians in a community setting, which will support healthy
ageing,” she says.