Although American epidemiological surveys indicate that fewer older individuals than their younger counterparts are current or heavy drinkers (Breslow et al., 2017; Grant et al., 2017), AUDs from earlier periods may persist or re-emerge. In addition, misuse of alcohol can have an especially ominous impact among older adults. There is a tendency for alcohol to produce higher blood alcohol levels as people advance in years (Bjork et al., 2008), increasing their vulnerability to alcohol-related accidents and falls. In addition, over three-quarters of current drinkers aged 65+ take medications that may interact adversely with alcohol (Breslow et al., 2015), and age-related changes can lead to greater toxicity and/or reduced effectiveness of medication (Moore et al., 2007). A greater understanding of alcohol use and problems at this stage of life is clearly warranted.
