Pete Hamill talked about his book, 'A Drinking Life: A Memoir', published by Little Brown, which documents his life and his journey to sobriety. He also talked about the death of several friends as. Occasional Alcohol Abuse And Binge Drinking. The first stage of alcoholism is a general. Drinking too much alcohol over a long time can: Lead to some kinds of cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage Worsen some health conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, memory loss and mood disorders. Although much of 'A Drinking Life' is not actually about drinking, it does offer some insights into the drinking condition as well as the human condition. More than that, it's a cracking good read. Pete Hamill writes beautifully and absorbingly, and he's had a fascinating life.
I was drinking a minimum of 6 beers a day every day. When I realized it had become my priority, I knew I had to do something. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't hold back and I would drink and the next morning I would feel defeated, depressed, and angry at myself for failing.
The idea that medication could help with the cravings... I just couldn't believe it would work, it took months before I decided to sign up, but once I did, my program coordinator helped me find the perfect plan tailored to my needs and lifestyle and between the medication and the app it slowly started to happen.
I was elated when I realized it had been a week since I've had a drink and I had no desire to drink, that's when I knew I had made the right choice by choosing LifeBac.
My family is happy to have me back! It's great to come home, cook and eat dinner as a family; I can feel the difference in my body when I wake up in the morning and at the end of the day I know I could drink if I wanted to but I no longer crave it. From the comfort and privacy of my home, LifeBac helped me take back control of my life and I will always be grateful for that 🙏.
- S.T.
Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Uncle George always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his drinking is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma Betty was a teetotaler all her life until she started having a drink each night to help her get to sleep after her husband died. Now, no one realizes that she needs a couple of drinks to get through each day.
These are common stories. The fact is that families, friends, and healthcare workers often overlook their concerns about older people drinking. Sometimes trouble with alcohol in older people is mistaken for other conditions related to aging, for example, a problem with balance. But, how the body handles alcohol can change with age. You may have the same drinking habits, but your body has changed.
Alcohol may act differently in older people than in younger people. Some older people can feel 'high' without increasing the amount of alcohol they drink. This 'high' can make them more likely to have accidents, including falls and fractures and car crashes. Also, older women are more sensitive than men to the effects of alcohol.
Drinking too much alcohol over a long time can:
- Lead to some kinds of cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage
- Worsen some health conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, memory loss and mood disorders
- Make some medical problems hard for doctors to find and treat—for example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack.
- Cause some older people to be forgetful and confused—these symptoms could be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Learn more about how alcohol affects older women.
Many medicines — prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal remedies — can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol. Many older people take medications every day, making this a special worry.
Before taking any medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol. Here are some examples of problems caused by mixing alcohol with some medicines:
- If you take aspirin and drink, your risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding is increased.
- When combined with alcohol, cold and allergy medicines (the label will say 'antihistamines') may make you feel very sleepy.
- Alcohol used with large doses of acetaminophen, a common painkiller, may cause liver damage.
- Some medicines, such as cough syrups and laxatives, have high alcohol content. If you drink at the same time, your alcohol level will go up.
- Alcohol used with some sleeping pills, pain pills, or anxiety/anti-depression medicine can be deadly.
How Alcohol Affects Safety
Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can lead to dangerous or even deadly situations. Drinking can impair a person's judgment, coordination, and reaction time. This increases the risk of falls, household accidents, and car crashes. Alcohol is a factor in 30 percent of suicides, 40 percent of crashes and burns, 50 percent of drownings and homicides, and 60 percent of falls. People who plan to drive, use machinery, or perform other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination should not drink.
In older adults, too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and falls, which can result in hip or arm fractures and other injuries. Older people have thinner bones than younger people, so their bones break more easily. Studies show that the rate of hip fractures in older adults increases with alcohol use.
Adults of all ages who drink and drive are at higher risk of traffic accidents and related problems than those who do not drink. Drinking slows reaction times and coordination and interferes with eye movement and information processing. People who drink even a moderate amount can have traffic accidents, possibly resulting in injury or death to themselves and others. Even without alcohol, the risk of crashes goes up starting at age 55. Also, older drivers tend to be more seriously hurt in crashes than younger drivers. Alcohol adds to these age-related risks.
In addition, alcohol misuse and abuse can strain relationships with family members, friends, and others. At the extreme, heavy drinking can contribute to domestic violence and child abuse or neglect. Alcohol use is often involved when people become violent, as well as when they are violently attacked. If you feel that alcohol is endangering you or someone else, call 911 or get other help right away.
Drinking Life Quotes
Read about this topic in Spanish. Lea sobre este tema en español.
For More Information About Alcohol Use and Safety
Alcoholics Anonymous
212-870-3400
www.aa.org
Drinking Life Goals
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health
888-696-4222
niaaaweb-r@exchange.nih.gov
www.niaaa.nih.gov
Drinking Life Game
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
877-726-4727 (toll-free)
800-487-4889 (TTY/toll-free)
samhsainfo@samhsa.hhs.gov
This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.
Content reviewed: May 16, 2017