03/14/96 - 06:30 PM ET - Click reload often for latest version
AMA focuses on alcoholism in elderly
Elderly alcoholics are a "hidden'' group that too many doctors overlook, says 
the American Medical Association. 
"There is a huge hidden population - up to 3 million people over 60 - who have 
problems with alcohol,'' says Dr. James Todd, AMA executive vice president. The 
diagnosis of alcoholism "is just not made as often'' as it should be. 
The doctors' group has released guidelines for family doctors on how to identify 
older patients who might be alcoholics and what to do to get them help. Doctors 
should: 
Consider problem drinking as a factor when treating a patient for falls, 
appetite and memory problems, trouble sleeping, and depression. 
Use open, non-judgmental questions such as "Do you use alcohol?'' 
Watch for possible interactions between alcohol and prescription drugs, 
especially anti-anxiety, barbiturate and sedative medications. 
Part of the problem is getting doctors to accept that elderly alcoholics exist, 
says the AMA report. 
"They may deny that the patient has a drinking problem, or be reluctant to make 
a diagnosis, because they are uncertain about how to treat the disease or 
because they question whether treatment is likely to be successful with this age 
group,'' the report says. 
Dr. Ted Parran, an alcohol abuse researcher at Case Western Reserve School of 
Medicine, Cleveland, says doctors mistakenly presume their older patients are 
non-drinkers. 
"Of those who do drink, a significant number are alcoholic,'' says Parran. 
"Because the elderly have less physiological reserve, they can't tolerate 
problematic drinking nearly as much'' as younger people. 
By Doug Levy, USA TODAY 
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