Prevention of Risky Substance Use among Older Adults

What prevention organizations can do to help reduce alcohol and drug misuse among older Vermonters and what older adults need to know to avoid the harmful health effects from drinking too much, taking risky medications, and using other drugs

Vermont Department of Health

Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living

Risky Alcohol Use in Age 65 and older

2020 22% reported drinking at a risk level

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2022 25% reported drinking at a risk level

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2020 9% reported drinking at a high risk level

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2022 13% reported drinking at a high risk level

At risk drinking on one occasion:

3 or more drinks for older adults

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High risk (binge) drinking on one occasion:

4 or more for older adults

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data

Factors Increasing Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder�in Older Adults

Social Isolation, grief, and/or frequent high risk drinking

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Chronic pain and prolonged stress

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Untreated medical or mental health conditions

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Sleep problems or suicidal ideation

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Lack of awareness of increased sensitivity to alcohol

Prevalence of Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use and combining these with Alcohol Use

17.5% of older Vermonters are being prescribed Opioids

42.1% of Opioids prescribed are for older Vermonters

34.8% of Benzodiazepines prescribed are for older Vermonters

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38% of older Vermonters report using prescribed medication for pain, sleep or anxiety (mostly Opioids and Benzodiazepines)

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25% of older Vermonters that use these medications daily also drink at a risk level

VPMS 2021 data and BRFSS data 2022

Percent of older Vermonters screened for alcohol use in a routine medical exam

72% of older Vermonters are being asked about their drinking

32% of these are given advice about their drinking

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91% of Vermonters aged 18 to 64 are being asked about their drinking in a routine medical exam

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Alcohol-related deaths among older Vermonters increased 37% from 2017 to 2021

BRFSS 2020 data and VDH DSU data 2021

Key Messages for Older Adults re Alcohol Use

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• As you age, alcohol can affect you more because: - Your body does not process alcohol as well as it used to.

- And you’re more likely to be taking medications that interact negatively

with alcohol. - You’re more likely to have health conditions that will get

worse if you drink alcohol

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• If you drink too much, reducing or cutting back on your alcohol consumption can improve your health and well-being.

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• Alcohol and prescription drug misuse is the fastest growing medical problem for older adults in US*.

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Vermont Department of Health *Aging with Dignity Conference 2023 Massachusetts

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Key Messages continued

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• Talk to your medical provider about the risks of your medications, especially risks of mixing alcohol and medications.

• If you need treatment for a drinking problem, seek help from your trusted medical provider, social worker, recovery coach, or any other professional helper.

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• Have hope! many older adults are able to change their drinking habits to improve their health and well-being.

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Vermont Department of Health

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Additional Information

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• Level of alcohol intake found to create significantly higher mortality risk is daily consumption of 3.2 drinks for men and 1.8 drinks for women.

From meta-analyses of 107 cohort studies published in JAMA Network, March 2023

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• Fuller list of alcohol-interactive medications, i.e. medications when combined with alcohol consumption are dangerous to health:

Benzodiazepines, Opioids, other sedatives, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, and other psychotropic medications

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Vermont Department of Health

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