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EXPERT REACTION: Baby boomers hitting the bottle and bong

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Rising levels of alcohol and drug abuse among the over-50s are a cause for concern, according to an editorial by a UK and an Australian expert. In Australia, risky drinking is generally declining, but not in baby boomers, they warn. And it's not just alcohol; boomer drug abuse is also increasing faster than other age groups, mainly with prescription drugs, but also with illicit drugs such as cannabis. All this could be a public health time bomb, the authors say, as the boozy boomers require treatment, ambulances and hospital beds. They suggest screening and treatment could help tackle the problem.

Journal/conference: The BMJ

Link to research (DOI): 10.1136/bmj.j3885

Organisation/s: Flinders University, , South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Media Release

From: The BMJ

Concerns over rise of substance misuse in “baby boomers”

A rise in alcohol and drug misuse among the over 50s (commonly known as “baby boomers”) is causing concern, warn experts in The BMJ today.

Researchers at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Flinders University in Australia, say the number of people aged over 50 experiencing problems from substance misuse is growing rapidly, with the numbers receiving treatment expected to treble in the United States and double in Europe by 2020.

They call for a coordinated international approach to tackle this rapidly growing problem.

In both the UK and Australia, risky drinking is declining, except among people aged 50 years and older, they explain. There is also a strong upward trend for episodic heavy drinking in this age group.

But this generational trend is not restricted to alcohol, they add. In Australia, the largest percentage increase in drug misuse between 2013 and 2016 was among people aged 60 and over, with this age group mainly misusing prescription drugs.

However, people over 50 also have higher rates than younger age groups for both past year and lifetime illicit drug misuse (notably cannabis).

With alcohol being the most common substance of misuse among older people, under-detection of alcohol problems is of immediate concern - and may increase further as baby boomers get older because of their more liberal views towards, and higher use of, alcohol, they write.

A lack of sound alcohol screening to detect risky drinking may result in a greater need for treatment, longer duration of treatment, heavier use of ambulance services, and higher rates of hospital admission.

Research suggests that treatment programmes adapted for older people with substance misuse were associated with better outcomes than those aimed at all age groups.

However, the authors point out that clinicians will need improved knowledge and skills in assessing and treating older people at risk of substance misuse.

“There remains an urgent need for better drug treatments for older people with substance misuse, more widespread training, and above all a stronger evidence base for both prevention and treatment,” they write.

“The clinical complexity of older adults with substance misuse demands new solutions to a rapidly growing problem. So far, there has been little sign of a coordinated international approach to integrated care,” they conclude.

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Expert Reaction

These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.

Professor Steve Allsop is from the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University

Alcohol and other drug related problems among older Australians are critical public health challenges now, and will increase in the coming years. The increase in the proportion of Australians over the age of 50, levels of alcohol and other drug consumption and the particular risks for ageing Australians sees this issue impact on our drug specialist and our aged care services and across our community.

Last updated: 22 Aug 2017 1:05pm

Terry Slevin is CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia and an Adjunct Professor at both Curtin University and ANU

The link between alcohol and cancer risk remains under recognised in the community. Evidence from Western Australia suggests campaigns to highlight this connection are effective in encouraging older drinkers to reconsider their consumption. The greater salience of the disease and personal vulnerability of cancer for older people may play a role.

Baby boomers are also often in senior positions of influence over public policy. Policy decisions relating to alcohol and other drugs are frequently put through a personal filter. This research highlights that senior policy makers should give consideration to this research in how they consider policy options to limit alcohol and other drug related harm. Reduction in alcohol and other drug use in younger age groups in recent years does not mean the problem is solved. Alcohol and other drug-related harm remains a major public health challenge. The progress that has been made needs to be maintained and public policy to continue those advances is essential across the community. Baby boomers should not be making policy decisions in this field through the lens of the bottom of a wine glass.

Last updated: 22 Aug 2017 12:54pm

Professor Robin Room is from the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University

Rao and Roche have put their fingers on an important trend. With respect to drinking, it used to be a commonplace that people cut down their drinking in their 50s, but with the baby boomers in Australia and some other countries this doesn't seem to be happening. One reason that people don't cut down may be simply that people in their 60s and 70s are in better health than in previous generations. But regular drinking of "a few drinks" at such ages is almost certainly worse for your health than at younger ages. Rao and Roche focus primarily on improving substance misuse treatment for older people, but it's at least as important to work on changing expectations and pressures to drink in clubs and at events where older people get together.

Last updated: 22 Aug 2017 1:12pm

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