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Alcohol and other drugs
Alcohol, like other drugs, causes a large number of deaths and hospitalisations from diseases and injuries for older people. Drinking within the low-risk levels described below can reduce your risk of harm. However, older people are advised to consult with their health professional about the most appropriate level of drinking for their good health. An understanding of illegal (or illicit) drugs can be useful if you are involved in grand-parenting and need to be aware of drug use and abuse.
Alcohol and ageing
Most people tend to drink less as they get older. As people get older they become more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol because their tolerance for alcohol tends to decrease. Older people will find that they cannot drink as much as they did when they were younger without getting drunk. This increased vulnerability is also due to a decrease in the total volume of water in the body which also decreases with age and helps to keep blood alcohol concentrations down. Lower total body water volume is particularly relevant to people aged over about 70-75 but can vary from person to person.Alcohol can interact with many commonly used over the counter or prescription medications causing unpleasantness and sometimes dangerous side effects.
Excessive, long-term alcohol use is associated with liver disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, and some cancers. Excessive drinking in the short term can greatly increase the risk of alcoholic poisoning, falls, accidents, and suicide in older people.
Light to moderate drinking may, for some older people, lower the risk of several diseases. However it also increases the risk of falls and other diseases such as cancer. Any potential benefits that moderate alcohol consumption might bring can be more easily attained by healthy eating and regular exercise.
The standard drink
One standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol. One small glass of beer, wine, spirits or mixed drinks equals approximately one standard drink. A 375ml can of full strength beer, a restaurant size serve of wine (150ml), or a 375ml can of premixed spirits equals about one-and-a-half standard drinks.How much alcohol is low risk?
The risk of harm from drinking alcohol increases with the amount consumed.To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime:
- For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two (2) standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.
- For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four (4) standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.
But remember to always check with your pharmacist or doctor for potential adverse effects of alcohol on any condition or medication you are taking.
Smoking
Every year Australians die from diseases caused by smoking. One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit.Remember:
- every cigarette is doing you damage
- it's not just a risk – it's a certainty that smoking will damage your health
- smoking damages your arteries, lungs and eyesight, and
- there is a nationally coordinated effort to help you quit.
When you call the Quitline you can arrange to have the Quit Book mailed to you and if you want to talk to someone about quitting, they will give you information on:
- the best way for you to quit
- coping with withdrawal symptoms, and
- quit courses and details of local organisations which provide individual help and counselling.
Other drugs
In the role of parenting and grandparenting, information on other drugs used by younger members of society can be helpful in a range of ways. For additional information on the symptoms and side effects of illicit drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin and cannabis, visit the Better Health Channel: Some facts about drugsSafe use of other medications
Older Australians are the largest users of medicines. While they assist in the treatment and prevention of disease, can increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life, medicines do have the potential to cause harm if used incorrectly or inappropriately.This is true for ‘over the counter’, health food store products and medications prescribed by your doctor.
For advice on misuse of medications and any concerns you may have, contact your local pharmacist or doctor.
Read more: About medication management