Revisiting Baby Boomers and Alcohol Use: Emerging Treatment Trends

Abstract

With the aging of the “Baby Boom” generation, it is anticipated that there will be a greater frequency of alcohol misuse among older adults. Clinicians often overlook signs of alcohol abuse in older adults or misdiagnose these problems. The purpose of this article is to examine some of the problems with alcohol use in older adults to further create awareness of the importance of appropriate strategies to reduce incidence. We consider the severity of alcohol abuse, factors that can aggravate alcohol use, and methods of implementing treatment in this population.

Keywords::

• Older adults
• baby boomers
• alcohol
• interventions
• screening
• diagnosis