Exam 14: Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Abuse in Late Life

You are assessing a 63 year old man who has smoked marijuana almost daily for 40 years. Throughout his life, he has been drinking alcohol once or twice a month, usually more than five drinks. He says he uses alcohol and marijuana but does not have a substance use problem. What might you recommend?

Which statement does not reflect a diagnosis of alcohol dependence?

The American Geriatric Society suggests AUD exists in elderly clients who .

You need to perform an assessment on an elderly client. You want to use a tool that provides the greatest sensitivity. What would you use?

Early-onset AUD is also known as AUD.

A nursing home facility hosts a weekly cocktail hour. You are a social worker on staff. At the last few parties, you notice a 69 year old woman who appears to be inebriated but has only one or two drinks. In a short discussion with her, she says she enjoys parties and social drinking among friends. What does the situation suggest?

An 80 year old woman has been drinking one alcoholic beverage every day for the last thirty years. She ensures she never drinks more, but she always has one. Why?

What are the six diagnostic criteria of alcohol dependence as described by Wetterling et al? How many must be met for a positive diagnosis? Explain how these criteria might be affected by the type of AUD.

You are a health care professional examining an elderly patient. He is currently taking medication for hypertension, arthritis, and hypercholesterolemia. The man is in the same physical condition as last time and seems to just need refills for his prescriptions; however, you smell alcohol on his breath. What do you do?

A 74-year older woman fell and was taken to the emergency room. You need to assess her for an alcohol use disorder. You find out her husband of 40 years died two months ago, and she started drinking. She is up to three or four drinks per day. She is also taking pain medication for arthritis. What do you recommend?

What are Type I and Type II AUDs? Describe trends in alcohol consumption as people age. Consider gender.

You are assessing a 60-year-old man who has been a habitual marijuana smoker since he was a teenager. He indicates during an assessment that for several years, he has been drinking alcohol about once a month, usually more than seven drinks. How would you best describe his substance use?

What are the American Geriatric Society's AGS) clinical guidelines for AUD in older adults? What cautions does the AGS recommend regarding drinking and regarding diagnosis using DSM-IV criteria?

One problem with using traditional screening tools for elderly clients is that .

What specialized screening tools are available to assess elderly clients? Which would you use, and why? Summarize some best practices for treating older alcohol abusers.

You are in charge of an outreach program for health care professionals on prescription drug misuse in the elderly. What is the most important issue to cover?

You are in charge of an outreach program for health care professionals on AUDs in the elderly. What is the most important issue to cover?

An elderly man who lives with his adult son was diagnosed a year ago with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The physician never discussed alcohol. The man gets angry when the son discusses his condition, and he drinks. The father drank all his life, but neither man considered it a problem. What does this information suggest?

What are the five overlapping items that Graham indicated should be included in screening for alcohol abuse in elders? What neuropsychological tests should be administered as part of a screening?