The report shows that binge drinking is more common than previous studies have indicated and the adults most often participating are over the age of 65. Approximately 17 percent of the national population engaged in binge drinking, which equates to one in six people.

The report gives a definition for binge drinking as the consumption of at least five alcoholic drinks in a single sitting for males and at least four drinks in a single sitting for women.

The CDC’s Vital Signs report includes information for 2010, and the results of the study show that there is an increased level of binge drinking, up from 15 percent of American adults. The rate had held constant for over 15 years.

Most commonly participating in binge drinking are young adults aged 18 to 34 years. Adults who reported the most frequent binge drinking, however, were over the age of 65. Older adults indicated that they engaged in binge drinking 5.5 times in each month. By contrast, other adults who reported binge drinking did so about four times per month.

Young adults aged 18 to 24 years had the largest percentage of binge drinkers at 28.2 percent and reported consuming the most alcoholic beverages in a binge drinking session at 9.3 drinks.

CDC substance abuse and mental health services administrator Pamela Hyde explained in the report that not only does the behavior of adults have a significant effect on public health, but it also provides an example to youth under the legal drinking age about what they should expect alcohol-related choices to look like.

Hyde says that in order to prevent long-term problems for future generations of legal-age drinkers, there needs to be a change in the adults who are currently binge drinking.

The information for the report was collected by conducting a phone survey in 48 states. One important change to the survey this year was the inclusion of cell phone surveys, which may have increased participation by younger adults.

The report also included information about the consequences related to binge drinking. For instance, binge drinking results in over half of the 80,000 deaths connected to excessive drinking. The economic impact of binge drinking is significant as well, with the majority of the $223.5 billion related to excessive drinking tied to binge drinking.

Peninsula Health, in Melbourne, conducted a study of more than 100 retiree-age and older people. Two-thirds were labeled as excessive alcohol drinkers, and more than 10 percent were considered at risk of developing health problems due to their alcohol intake.

Studies revealed that older Australians binge drink for different reasons than the younger generation. Psychologist Stephen Bright, designer of the OWL program (Older Wiser Lifestyle), said that older drinkers often drink out of grief and loneliness, while younger drinkers binge drink to enjoy parties and social gatherings. He has had patients of OWL who have admitted to drinking excessively and regularly after the loss of a spouse and after the loss of friends and social contacts through retirement.

Hidden dangers can sneak up on the older generation when they drink out of grief or habit. While younger Australians may drink excessively at social occasions, studies show that older Australians tend to drink more often, more regularly. With these regular, casual drinks they may not realize how much alcohol they are really consuming over time. Another impact this age group must consider is the serious complications that could occur when they mix alcohol and prescription drugs. Bright encourages doctors to counsel their patients carefully on the implications of mixing certain drugs with alcoholic beverages.

Bright’s OWL program is designed to aid older citizens in making wise choices about not consuming alcohol excessively after they have assessed their drinking habits. They also discuss with them how much alcohol is safe to consume with medications they are currently taking. Bright touts the benefits of such a necessary program for seniors who may just need some education and guidance in order to stay safe and healthy, and sees promise in it helping more than just local older citizens if it were to branch out nationally.

There is not one quick fix to this problem of excessive consumption of alcohol by older persons. He stresses that each individual would have to consider what medications might interfere and what health problems the alcohol may aggravate. But with the findings of this study, it is apparent that there needs to be more communication and education with the older population on the dangers of alcohol consumption.

Dr. Katherine Keyes and her colleagues at the Mailman School Of Public Health combed through 31 previous studies about alcohol consumption and identified several major new trends. Baby boomers and senior citizens — Americans born after World War II — are binge drinking more often and developing more alcohol abuse disorders. Binge drinking is defined as heavy episodic drinking for the purpose of intoxication, or five drinks in a row in one sitting for men and four drinks for women.

Dr. Keyes found that the number of people who do not drink at all has decreased. Among adults over 18, over 40% of women and 27% of men told researchers they had not had a drink in the past year.

More women are drinking more often and more heavily, probably because their roles in society have changed and they now enter more environments that are alcohol-friendly. Women born after World War II not only have to carry out traditional roles but they are also going to college and entering the workplace in great numbers. The study found that 20% of women had three drinks a day, compared to 42% of men.

“It seems like the introduction of more women into the workforce, and more upwardly mobile women — while that has many positive benefits to society, it is also reducing social sanctions on drinking. It is becoming more and more acceptable for women to drink,” Dr. Keyes said. “Environment increases the risk for alcoholism. While genetics play a substantial role, the generational differences between those born before and after World War II indicate that factors in the environment such as policies, laws, social norms, availability, and broader social context also contribute substantially to the underlying risk for alcohol use disorders in the population.”

This study appears in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical And Experimental Research.

Some experts commented on this study, noting that women who drink excessively put themselves at greater risk than do men who drink in the same amounts. Women metabolize alcohol differently than men do, because their bodies are smaller and have less water content. They can become intoxicated more quickly and after consuming fewer drinks than men. Women who drink heavily are at greater risk for sexual assault and domestic violence.

“This study empirically shows us the drinking trends are impacting women,” said Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, an addiction specialist. “After World War II, the role of women changed. More women entered the workplace, but they were also expected to be good wives and mothers. They have latched on to alcohol as a coping mechanism because it is readily available and socially acceptable.”

Another recent study found that alcohol is linked to breast cancer in women. Previous studies have shown that alcohol is a carcinogen that is a risk factor for liver, colorectum, and esophagus cancers. The body converts alcohol to acetaldehyde, a chemical similar to formaldehyde. Acetaldehyde causes DNA damage that in turn triggers cell abnormalities.

The majority of people convert acetaldehyde into acetate, a harmless substance, when they drink alcohol, but those who cannot are at greater risk for cancer if they drink.

The study that found the link between alcohol and breast cancer appears in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical And Experimental Research.

What are some of the signs that we should be on the lookout for? How do we know when and if an intervention for our elderly loved ones is appropriate or necessary? Let’s look at this issue in a little more detail.

Clever Deception

We already know that our parents have a keen sense of privacy. They’re also pretty adept at keeping things secret that they don’t want others to know about, including us. It should come as no surprise, then, that our parents may cloak their growing abuse of alcohol and drugs, including prescription drugs and maintain an outward demeanor that everything is just fine.

Should there be slight glimmers of misuse of various substances, often our parents will cleverly cover it up by saying they’ve just got a bug or engaged in a little too much celebration. No big thing, they may say. There’s nothing for you to worry about.

That’s just about the time when your radar should sense that there might be more to the situation than your parents are letting on.

It isn’t that your parents want to lie to you, at least, not in most cases. But if they’ve become dependent upon drugs or alcohol, or any combination thereof, they may not be able to help themselves. Telling a falsehood becomes necessary in order for them to be able to continue their surreptitious consumption of drugs and/or alcohol undetected.

So, while we can forgive them their outright lies, this doesn’t mean that we should allow the situation to continue.

But how do we know if there really is a problem? Maybe it is true that they’re only drinking now and then, or took prescription medication in conjunction with alcohol only once. On the other hand, the problem may already be quite severe. In fact, only about 37 percent of substance abuse cases are recognized in people over the age of 60, compared with 60 percent among those under the age of 60.

The only way we can be less than clueless is to know and watch out for warning signs of drug or alcohol abuse.

Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse in the Elderly

It’s easy to dismiss certain signs of prescription drug abuse in the elderly as just normal aging. Forgetfulness and irritability are two common behaviors that often go hand-in-hand with advancing years.

Here are some of the typical behaviors that are associated with drug abuse, including abuse of prescription medications. If any of them are present, it may be time to think about an intervention for your elderly loved ones.

• Changes in sleeping patterns – including sleeping too much or inability to sleep
• Changes in eating habits
• Poor personal hygiene
• Inability to concentrate
• Unexplained chronic pain
• Unsteady gait, tendency to fall frequently
• Lapses in memory
• Sadness, depression or irritability
• General loss of interest in life and activities that used to bring enjoyment
• Increased isolation from family and friends
• Has bottles of tranquilizers on hand and often takes the medication at the least sign of any disturbance

Before launching into a confrontation with your loved one, however, it’s a good idea to know a little more about what your elderly loved one may be dealing with. First of all, take an inventory of the prescription medication your loved one is taking.

Does your loved one take a drug that has addictive potential, such as benzodiazepine or opioid painkillers? These are drugs such as Valium, Xanax, Librium, OxyContin, Dilaudid, Demerol, Vicodin, Lorcet and others. If so, any deviation from taking it exactly as the doctor ordered, including how much to take, how often to take it and for how long, could be problematic.

What sometimes happens is that an elderly person doesn’t think he or she is getting the expected benefit from the medication and doubles up on the amount taken, or takes it more often than recommended. It’s also easy for older adults to forget that they’ve already taken the medication, if they don’t use a pill minder or organizer. And combinations of medications, perhaps prescribed by different doctors who aren’t kept informed of other medications your elderly loved one takes, can also be harmful. Interactions, side-effects and complications can ensue.

It might be time to accompany your elderly parent or loved one to the doctor and ask about the possibility of prescribing a safer alternative drug. This is especially important if your loved one has a past history of addiction.

Remember that it isn’t ever advisable for a patient to just stop taking a medication that the doctor prescribed for them. So, while you may be concerned about your older loved one’s misuse of a variety of prescription drugs, he or she may have become addicted to one or more of them. Quitting cold turkey is not only difficult, but can be extremely dangerous or even fatal. Withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, for example, in the case of addiction to benzodiazepines, mean that safely detoxing from the drug needs to be carried out under the supervision of the doctor or a medical professional, often in an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse in the Elderly

Abuse of alcohol is dangerous for everyone, regardless of age. But it can be especially dangerous for older adults. Medical experts say that older adults usually need less alcohol to become intoxicated than individuals who are younger. An older person stays drunk longer due to the fact that the human body processes the alcohol more slowly with increasing age.

Older adults may have vision or hearing problems, or both. They may also have reaction times that are considerably slower than they once were. This means that use and misuse of alcohol can exacerbate these problems, causing more incidents of falls, alcohol-related vehicle crashes, as well as other types of accidents.

When an older adult mixes alcohol and prescription medications or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, the results can be dangerous or even fatal. And the fact is that as adults get older, they are more likely to be prescribed multiple medications for a variety of medical conditions, everything from high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, to diabetes, blood, lung or other illnesses.

Watch out for the following signs that may indicate alcohol abuse in your elderly loved one. Note that some of these warning signs are similar to or the same as those for prescription drug abuse.

• Increased incidents of falls
• Inability to make it to the bathroom in time, a condition known as incontinence
• Increased headaches and/or dizziness
• Poor personal hygiene
• Changes in eating habits, for example, not eating enough or eating poorly
• Increased problems with money or finances
• Losing touch with or ignoring family and/or friends
• Thoughts of suicide
• Mood swings, frequently feeling sad or depressed
• Seems more hostile than usual or more resentful
• Loss of interest in activities that previously were enjoyable
• Difficulty in focusing and making decisions
• Worsening memory
• Feeling anxious most of the time
• Drinks alcohol despite warning labels on prescription drugs
• Often appears intoxicated, slightly tipsy, exhibits slurred speech
• Suffers from shakes and tremors
• Drinks in solitary, hidden from others
• Is drinking more than before
• Has drinking rituals, like drinking before, during or following meals, and is upset when this ritual is disturbed
• Suffers from alcohol-related health problems
• Often hides empty beer and liquor bottles or surreptitiously attempts to dispose of them
• Makes excuses to keep beer and liquor in the house
• Has the smell of liquor on his or her breath, attempts to disguise it with mouthwash or by chewing gum
• Falls asleep during conversations
• Calls you at odd hours or in the middle of the night

If any of the abovementioned warning signs are present, it doesn’t automatically mean that your elderly loved one is abusing alcohol. Some of these are warning signs that accompany other health problems that adults may have as they age. Some behavior changes are the result of stress, which may have prompted a sudden increase in alcohol consumption as a means of coping.

In addition, retirement, if recent, the loss of a spouse or other loved one, loss of the family home, and being recently diagnosed with a disease can all trigger substance abuse, whether that substance is alcohol or drugs or both.

Getting Help: Arranging for an Intervention

After careful analysis of the situation with your elderly loved ones, if you determine that there’s good reason to be concerned about drug or alcohol abuse, the first thing to do is to have a frank and loving conversation with your loved one about what you have observed.

This may not go as you had planned, however, due to the fact that your elderly parents may deny that a problem exists, promise to quit drinking and/or taking too many drugs, or ask you to mind your own business. You should not give up in the face of resistance, though, since the life of your loved one could depend on his or her getting professional help.

Maybe you will be able to convince your parent to see his or her doctor and you could accompany your loved one for the visit. This isn’t always practical and your parent may refuse to either go to the doctor or to allow you to come along. Again, it may be considered an invasion of privacy, a desire to remain independent, or a denial of any problem, or all of these.

What should you do if problems continue to exist and your elderly loved one refuses to get help to correct them? Consider an intervention by a professional.

Why not do the intervention yourself? For one thing, unless you’re a professional drug and alcohol interventionist, you aren’t properly equipped to handle the emotional aspects of the intervention. You may be swayed by tears and angry outbursts, feel a sense of shame or guilt about confronting your elderly loved one. Worst of all, you may back down and allow your loved one to continue behaving as before.

With a professional interventionist present, however, you can be assured that the meeting will take place according to evidence-based procedures. There will be a pre-meeting for family members and possibly close friends where everyone meets with the interventionist to go over what will take place during the actual intervention.

During the intervention itself, the interventionist’s sole purpose is to get your elderly loved one to acknowledge that his or her abuse is a problem and to accept and be willing to go into treatment. During the meeting, family members and close friends read aloud statements that they have prepared ahead of time, telling the loved one how his or her drug or alcohol abuse has impacted them, that they are here out of love for the individual and only want him or her to get the treatment they need.

It’s also critically important that your elderly loved one realize that there will be no more enabling of the drug or alcohol abuse by family members. Excuses will no longer be tolerated and there will be no further support unless and until the individual accepts treatment.

Once the individual agrees to go into treatment, the intervention is over. Arrangements for admission to a drug or alcohol rehab facility should already have been made and the interventionist often accompanies the individual directly to the facility. There’s no downtime, no delay to give the individual an opportunity to back out. This is striking while the iron is hot, so to speak.

When looking for a professional interventionist, search for one that is board registered and certified by the Association of Intervention Specialist Certification Board (AISCB).

Prognosis for Recovery

Look upon the professional intervention as an important part of the healing process from drug or alcohol addiction. It is true that older adults, over the age of 55, often take longer to recover, and they also often need greater support during treatment, but it is also true that their overall long-term recovery success rate is higher than any other age group.

Remember, age sometimes does have its benefits. While your elderly loved one may have been quick to dismiss that there was a problem with his or her alcohol abuse, once they enter treatment and commit to sobriety, they often embrace their new sober lifestyle with gusto.

Of course, one time in rehab for drug or alcohol abuse may not be sufficient to overcome chronic addiction. Your elderly loved one may relapse, requiring further counseling or treatment one or more times in a rehab facility or private counseling. This does not mean the original rehab was a failure. It only means that there may be more time required for your elderly loved one to understand the disease of addiction, learn more about how to recognize triggers and learn and practice coping strategies for dealing effectively with cravings and urges.

Participation in 12-Step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or other self-help groups is also strongly encouraged following completion of drug and alcohol rehab.

With continued support and encouragement from family and peer support groups, your elderly loved one will have a much better chance of maintaining sobriety and living a more fulfilling life. Don’t shortchange your parents who may be in trouble with drugs and/or alcohol. The time to act is now if you believ

Investigators claim that Medicare officials have been extremely slow in recognizing and acting on this evidence. Gregory D. Kutz, the director of forensic audits and special investigations, says their analysis determined that around 170,000 Medicare recipients had visited five or more practitioners in the medical field to receive prescriptions such as OxyContin and Percocet.

In one case, a recipient in Georgia obtained a 150-day Oxycodone supply in just 27 days by visiting four different doctors resulting in seven prescriptions. Throughout the course of one year, the women received a total of 3,655 oxycodone pills from 58 different prescribers and had filled them at over 40 pharmacies.

Senator Thomas R. Carper of Delaware stated that federal dollars, which are intended to help the elderly and poor, are being abused and used instead to feed addictions or to fill the wallets of drug dealers. Prescription drug abuse is now causing increased expense to taxpayers and also threatening the health of Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare’s drug benefits are managed by privately owned insurance companies that are under contract with our government. Their drug plans gave out almost 57 million prescriptions for opiates last year. This number increased by 11 million from just 2007 – a 24 percent increase.

Investigators argue that we could reduce fraud and prescription drug abuse by simply using electronic health records and electronic broadcast of prescriptions among pharmacies to keep better track of patients’ medical history. Medicare officials argue that high use of pain medications isn’t necessarily an indicator of abuse but rather a poor coordination by medical care in treating pain symptoms.

As they enter their 60s and beyond, boomers will be dealing with some of the same difficulties that every generation must eventually face, including loss of career, loss of parent(s) and declining health. Add to that list the financial strains of a weakened economy which may result in less personal financial security, the need to prolong financial involvement with their children and possibly more home care for even older parents. Mental health professionals warn that the stressors of aging which can lead to depression and anxiety disorders are about to occur on an unprecedented scale.

Mental health experts predict surges in addictive behaviors such as substance abuse and compulsive gambling and are calling for treatment strategies and perhaps more treatment centers. One concern is that the generation with a friendly attitude toward marijuana use may revert to using the substance when things start to feel bleak. Mental health providers worry that boomers do not realize that marijuana has increased in potency since the days of flower children, and increased potency increases other serious psychological, cognitive and respiratory risks. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health says that there has been a 3 percent increase in the rate of illegal drug use among seniors during the last eight years.

Alcohol remains the most abused substance among U.S. seniors. The number of American seniors who suffer with alcohol dependency is probably in the millions today. Some statistics report that 14 percent of all hip fractures in the over-60 population occur as a direct result of combining alcohol with prescription medications. Experts say the 3 million estimated to be addicted to substances today could triple by the year 2020.

Mental health providers would do well to “get to know their patient.” Boomers about to encounter the numerous stressors associated with aging are folks who expect quick fixes, have fewer inhibitions when it comes to prescription medications than their parents had, and tend to be spiritual. Treatment strategies should take these “profile” factors into consideration when dealing with patients in the demographic.

The size of the baby boom generation has impacted U.S. life and culture all along. As the boomer generation ages, it will influence the country in new ways – ways that reflect this new stage of life. The effects on health and mental health care will be significant. Many are suggesting that mental health care providers be prepared for what may lie ahead. Let’s hope that just like bottles of water purchased before a storm, the precautions prove not as necessary as feared. Meanwhile, better to follow the adage which warns “better safe than sorry.”

Recently, we see that many elderly have become hidden alcoholics due to loneliness and depression. They have gone from leading productive lives to no longer having family or friends around to support them as they are left alone at home or in nursing homes, according to a recent article in Frost Illustrated.

Most of the elderly are on a variety of medications that do not mix safely with alcohol. When these patients are then hospitalized, often no one knows they are alcoholics which can lead to withdrawal signs complicating treatment.

A simple bout of pneumonia can become complicated with an unknown alcoholic as it lowers the immune system. Alcoholism also causes mineral and vitamin deficiencies that can lead to chronic brain diseases or deficits of the neurological system.

If an alcoholic is admitted, they need to be treated for such deficiencies and given supplements like B1, or thiamine and magnesium in conjunction with other nutrients they are lacking. This becomes complicated when the doctors don’t know the elderly person is an alcoholic. Social Service agencies need to be more aware of the conditions that lead to alcoholism with the elderly, and these elderly individuals also need to be encouraged to become involved in recreational activities for peer interaction.

It is important to make sure you have a neighbor or friend who regularly checks on your elderly family member and also has a key. Check with the nursing home or senior center to get your elderly loved one plugged in to recreational activities to help avoid this growing problem.

“There is a scarcity of information about alcohol use and the elderly,” said Marcos Antonio Lopes, corresponding author for the study and currently a visiting lecturer at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, “which needs to be resolved in order to construct a real diagnosis and promote proper health care for this population.”

Jerson Laks, associate professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro and a researcher with the Brazilian National Committee for Research, agrees. “Alcohol use is frequently an exclusion criterion for any study of cognition and dementia in the elderly, as well as in studies aimed at depression,” he said. “Therefore, by simply excluding alcohol use and abuse, most studies cannot reveal the interaction between drinking behaviors and cognition in this age range.”

The current study is also important, Laks added, because it did not have any expectations that the elderly would drink less than younger subjects and, furthermore, it asked many difficult questions despite their negative stigmas in order to uncover the facts about drinking among the elderly in Brazil and its association with dementia.

Lopes and his colleagues recruited a sample of 1,145 individuals who were 60 years of age and older (419 men, 726 women), from different socioeconomic levels, and examined them in two phases. The first phase used several instruments, including the CAGE questionnaire, a four-question screening test for alcohol dependence, to identify potential alcohol-related problems, as well as a screening test for dementia to identify cognitive and functional impairment.

The second phase used the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination, as well as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fourth Edition, to establish a clinical diagnosis of dementia.

“We found that heavy alcohol use among the elderly people we investigated was high at 8.2 percent and affected principally men from low socioeconomic levels,” said Lopes. “However, the effects of heavy alcohol use on memory and other cognitive functions were more evident in women.” Lopes added that their finding of 8.2 percent was greater than expected, when compared to previous studies, but that the fundamental lack of information in this area of study makes comparisons difficult.

“This study shows that older people keep drinking along the life span,” said Laks. “Taking into consideration that drinking may lead to falls and to cognitive impairment when heavy use is the case, this study creates important awareness about this issue.”

The study was funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de São Paulo (FAPESP). This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network.

This can be a tough subject to broach with your parents, particularly as they get on in years. But the truth is that as we age, we find ourselves with a variety of health problems, some minor, some serious, that may require a prescription medicine to cure, help alleviate symptoms, or just manage pain. These could be for heart-related concerns, arthritis, diabetes, problems with dental, vision or hearing. Prior to performing dental surgery, a dentist may prescribe an antibiotic. After minor or major surgery, the physician could prescribe a medication for temporary relief of pain and to stave off infection. Over time, medications seem to accumulate in the medicine cabinets of the elderly. Often times they don’t even remember what the medications are for. Mixing prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, can be very dangerous – even deadly.

Each year, 30 percent of the prescriptions written in the U.S. are consumed by people over 65. According to recent census data, 35 million Americans are age 65 or older. This population spends more than $15 billion per year on prescription drugs. Substance abuse occurs in about 17 percent of the elderly. Most abuse occurs due to difficulty reading and understanding prescription instructions, overdoses, under doses, erratic dosing, use for nonmedical purposes, and use in combination with other drugs.

How, then, do you talk to your parents about the subject of prescription drug abuse? Here are some tips.

• Choose an Appropriate Time – You know your parents better than anyone else. When are they most receptive to conversation? Is it in the early or mid-morning? Are they more attuned to topics discussed in the afternoon or after dinner? Picking the right time to talk with them about their prescription drug use (and possible abuse) is critical. If you bring up the subject when they’re still half-asleep, or nodding off just before bedtime, you not only don’t have their full attention, but the discussion will possibly escalate into a full-blown argument.

• Visit for a Few Days – The best way to monitor the situation is to actually spend a few days with your elderly parents. This is especially recommended if you live out of state or far enough away that you don’t see them on a regular basis. Even if you do live nearby, recommend a visit to do some special things together, like attend a play or musical, go on a day trip, a museum, or whatever activities your parent(s) like to do. While you’re there, watch what medicines they take and when.

• Make a List – Many people leave their medicine containers right out on the counter, lined up in a row. It’s easy enough for you to make a list of everything that’s there – after they’ve gone to sleep. Don’t think of it as spying! The only way you’ll know what can possibly be interacting in a negative way is to have a complete list of all their prescribed medications. Jot down the names of all the physicians and contact numbers. The elderly are frequently prescribed medications for cardiovascular, central nervous system and musculoskeletal conditions. The most abused prescription drugs are the opiates or painkillers.

• Watch for Signs of Contraindications – Pay close attention to how your parent acts before and after taking medications. If you see evidence that they are drowsy, dizzy, have trouble with coordination, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate and pulse, or other symptoms, this could mean there’s something not right with their medications, or the combination of them or timing of taking them.

• Observe them Taking Medications — Watch as your parents take their dosages and, if appropriate, initiate the discussion then. Ask them, “Why are you taking this medicine after all this time?” You can also say, “I thought this was only for pain after your hip replacement, but that was three years ago. You should be done with this by now.” Tailor your questions and comments depending on what they say. If they’re agreeable, ask them if they have a list of all the medicines they take, and also ask them what OTC medicines they take regularly for any condition.

• Discuss Prescription Drug and OTC Interactions – Many times, elderly persons do not realize that what they are taking can prove harmful or even lethal. This is especially true if they have visited various doctors for a variety of conditions and were prescribed medications by each. Your parents may not know that different strengths or brands of medicines can cause adverse effects. They may not remember or recognize the onset of new symptoms or be able to distinguish between chronic and new conditions. Just having the discussion with them is a good first step to raise their level of awareness. You don’t have to get too technical. Just be knowledgeable enough that you can mention a few of the more prominent adverse interactions.

• Make Larger Labels – If your parents have difficulty reading the small print on the prescription medications, make larger-print labels (if their pharmacy is unable to do so). You could also make a list of medications, doses, times to take, etc., all in larger print. Laminate it and place it strategically so that it’s readily available to your parents.

• Consult with a Professional – You may wish to talk with a knowledgeable professional, a counselor, doctor, minister or social worker. Share with them your concerns. They will be able to look at the situation objectively and evaluate what options are available for your parents.

• Go With Your Parents to their Doctor – Make an appointment and go with your parent(s) to their doctor. Bring along the complete list of medications, OTC medicines, even herbs and vitamins that your parents take. Talk about any symptoms, problems, new or chronic, that you have seen or that your parents have shared with you. If there is any suspected prescription drug/OTC medicine and/or alcohol abuse, the doctor will recommend further action. What you really want to get to is to eliminate drugs that are no longer required, or to reduce dosage (while still at an effective level) for any medications that are absolutely necessary. Ask the doctor to clearly explain medications and OTC medicines that work against each others, or should never be taken together, as well as which medications should never be consumed with alcohol. The elderly place a great deal of confidence in what their doctor tells them, so if you haven’t had much luck convincing your parents that their drug use is hurting their health, this may do the trick.

• Treatment May Be Required – If the situation has progressed to the point of serious abuse, especially with older persons who have a cognitive impairment and who may also abuse alcohol, treatment may be required. This may involve a residential treatment program following detoxification. Insurance generally covers a good portion of this, and assistance is available through federal and state agencies. Hopefully, your parents won’t need this step, but there’s no shame in it if they do. Continuing therapy, counseling and group support meetings can provide lasting assistance to persons recovering from prescription drug abuse.