Alcohol abuse and binge drinking growing problem for elderly, warn GPs

Catherine Shanahan

Because of their age, older patients with alcohol problems are prone to a wide range of damaging consequences both physical and psychological, as well as falls and accidents, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

Rolande Anderson, Director of the ICGP 'Helping Patients with Alcohol' programme, said because of their reliance on medications, older people are also at greater risk of adverse reactions when medicines and alcohol interact.