My late father suffered with alcohol addiction throughout his life, but it became a significant issue when he and my mom divorced after 40 years of marriage. My mom always tried to curtail his drinking and his smoking habits. The following article was helpful to me regarding this issue of alcoholism which runs in my family.
Senior Citizens and Substance Abuse
by Kayla Smith, Editorial Director for the Addiction Center, February 16, 2016
Elderly Abuse Statistics
“Seventeen percent of people in the United States over 65 years old have abused prescription medications, according to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Approximately 30 percent of adults over 65 are given some type of prescription medicine, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, men and women aged 65 or older should consume no more than 1 drink daily and a maximum of 2 drinks on any occasion.
Drug and alcohol abuse among the elderly is a rapidly growing health problem in the United States.