Life can be dangerous for senior drinkers

Story by Elisabeth Sherwin

Colorado is known for many things. Unfortunately drinking is one of them. The state’s per capita alcohol consumption is higher than the national average.

The national average is 536 drinks per person per year. Colorado beat that in 2023 with 645 drinks per person per year, according to the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup.

Fortunately, many residents also seek treatment, with 40- to 59-year-olds being the largest age group looking for help.

Terry Rustin, a psychiatrist and internist who specializes in addiction and behavioral medicine, has had experience treating senior problem drinkers. Rustin makes his home in both Estes Park and Texas and is a staff psychiatrist at La Hacienda Treatment Center in Hunt, Texas.

According to Rustin, about 12 percent of people who drink alcohol develop a dependency on it. They tend to fall into one of two groups. One group is young, mostly male, associated with anti-social and risky behavior.

“The other group develops a problem after many years of drinking in control,” he said.

“Those in this group are older than 40, equally male and female, avoid risk, have had successful careers and relationships, and obey the rules of society,” he added.

When those in the older group finally ask for help, their friends and family often cannot believe it. They did not see it coming. Addictive disorders in older drinkers worsen slowly and gradually, so that it can be many years before they get help.

Rustin says a typical history from an older person follows this pattern:

First, they tried alcohol and a few drugs in their teens and twenties, but never had a problem. Next, they settled down, raised a family, had a successful career, had friends, hobbies, and interests. After some thirty years or more, they retired and had too much time on their hands. Drinking increased, they became more isolated, stopped participating in clubs, church, and other activities. Finally, after some incidents, someone they trusted told them they were drinking too much. At first they resisted, but eventually agreed that they needed help and went into treatment.

That four-step drinking history mirrors the experience of Joe P., 64, an alcoholic now in recovery.

“Some people start drinking after they retire,” said Joe. “That’s what I did. I’m a poster child for that statement.

“You go from 1,000 miles per hour working to zero miles per hour,” he said. It’s a hard adjustment.

Joe retired at age 48 and moved to Estes Park, a town where the median age is 60, more than 1.5 times the median age in Colorado as a whole.

“I had aches and pains and I was depressed. So I crawled into a bottle. I’ve seen it happen and I think it’s a lot more common than people are willing to admit.”

Eventually, Joe came to the realization that he needed help.

“I knew I needed help but I didn’t know where to go. I was ashamed.”

Fortunately, recovery programs abound. Joe was able to find help and he recently celebrated five years of sobriety.

“I sleep well, I have energy, I feel like a million bucks. I used to take 27 pills a day. Now I take one,” he said.

His take-home message is simple: “If you think you have a problem, you have a problem. Get help before it is too late because the world is a beautiful place.”

Rustin says the treatment of older adults with addiction disorders is not substantially different from treating younger people, with the exception that older adults tend to be more willing, more engaged, and more motivated.

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