Why the Elderly Turn to Alcohol and Drugs: Causes
This paper examines the growing problem of alcohol and drug abuse among elderly adults in the United States, exploring the biological, social, and demographic factors that increase vulnerability to substance misuse in later life. It highlights the particular significance of the aging baby boomer generation, whose historically higher rates of substance use are driving increased demand for treatment services. The paper reviews existing literature on alcohol use disorders among older adults, identifies a critical gap in research regarding the specific factors driving rising rates of use, and outlines the theoretical, practical, cultural, legal, and ethical implications of future study in this area.
- Introduction: Scope and purpose of the research study
- Background Information: Epidemiological trends and demographic context
- Literature Review: Scholarly findings on elderly substance use disorders
- Gap in the Literature and Theoretical Implications: Missing research on contributing factors identified
- Practical, Cultural, Legal, and Ethical Considerations: Health impact, consent, and confidentiality concerns
- Conclusion: Summary of rising crisis and need for research
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What makes this paper effective
- Grounds its argument in concrete epidemiological data (e.g., the Drug Abuse Warning Network statistic that 61% of adverse drug-reaction emergency visits involved those aged 65+), giving the claims immediate credibility.
- Clearly identifies a gap in the existing literature — the absence of studies on specific contributing factors — which justifies the proposed research and gives the paper a defined purpose.
- Organizes content logically from background context, through literature review, to implications and ethics, following standard research-proposal conventions.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the use of a literature gap identification technique common in research proposals. Rather than simply summarizing existing studies, the author synthesizes them to expose what remains unknown — specifically, which factors drive rising substance use among the elderly — thereby establishing the rationale for further investigation. This technique signals academic maturity and is essential for justifying original research.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with an introduction establishing the problem and scope, followed by a terminology definition. A background section presents epidemiological context, and a literature review surveys scholarly findings on baby boomers, alcohol use disorders, and underdetection. Subsequent short sections address the research gap, theoretical implications, practical and cultural implications, and ethical considerations before a brief conclusion. This mirrors a standard research-proposal format appropriate for undergraduate-level academic writing.
Introduction
Irrespective of the increasing rates of prescription drug misuse among the elderly, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance in this age group (Rossow & Træen, 2020). Aging leads to physical and social changes that increase vulnerability to substance misuse (Chhatre et al., 2017). Older people have lower metabolic rates, and their brains are more sensitive to drugs (Kuerbis, 2020), making them more vulnerable to the consequences of alcohol and drug intake. Several research studies on alcohol and drug treatment among the elderly have therefore focused on alcohol use disorders (Jayadevappa et al., 2015). This research seeks to understand in detail the various factors that contribute to increasing alcohol intake among the elderly, in order to find appropriate remedies to contain the growing prevalence of alcohol use disorders in this population.
Terminology
Baby Boomers refers to the generational cohort of people born between 1946 and 1964. They were named baby boomers because, according to statistics, a significantly higher number of births occurred during this period.
References
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Blow, F. C., & Barry, K. L. (2012). Alcohol and substance misuse in older adults. Current Psychiatry Reports, 14(4), 310–319.
Caputo, F., Vignoli, T., Leggio, L., Addolorato, G., Zoli, G., & Bernardi, M. (2012). Alcohol use disorders in the elderly: A brief overview from epidemiology to treatment options. Experimental Gerontology, 47(6), 411–416.
Chhatre, S., Cook, R., Mallik, E., & Jayadevappa, R. (2017). Trends in substance use admissions among older adults. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 1–8.
Geels, L. M., Vink, J. M., van Beek, J. H., Bartels, M., Willemsen, G., & Boomsma, D. I. (2013). Increases in alcohol consumption in women and elderly groups: Evidence from an epidemiological study. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1–13.
Hunter, B., Lubman, D. I., & Barratt, M. (2011). Alcohol and drug misuse in the elderly. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 45(4), 343–343.
Jayadevappa, R., Chhatre, S., & Metzger, D. (2015). Trend in substance use admissions among older adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 156(100), e103.
Kuerbis, A. (2020). Substance use among older adults: An update on prevalence, etiology, assessment, and intervention. Gerontology, 66(3), 249–258.
Kuerbis, A., Sacco, P., Blazer, D. G., & Moore, A. A. (2014). Substance abuse among older adults. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 30(3), 629–654.
Lal, R., & Pattanayak, R. D. (2017). Alcohol use among the elderly: Issues and considerations. Journal of Geriatric Mental Health, 4(1), 4.
Lamy, P. P. (1988). Actions of alcohol and drugs in older people. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 12(4), 9–13.
O'Connell, H., Chin, A. V., Cunningham, C., & Lawlor, B. (2003). Alcohol use disorders in elderly people — redefining an age-old problem in old age. BMJ, 327(7416), 664–667.
Rossow, I., & Træen, B. (2020). Alcohol use among older adults: A comparative study across four European countries. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 37(6), 526–543.
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