ERIC Number: ED251736
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1984-Aug-24
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Strategies for Recognizing and Treating Elderly Alcohol Abusers.
Schonfeld, Lawrence; Dupree, Larry W.
This paper describes the Gerontology Alcohol Project (GAP), which was established by the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse as a pilot treatment/research project for late life drinkers, those who begin abusing alcohol after age 50. Two strategies developed by GAP for identifying elderly alcohol abusers are described including identifying characteristics (quantity and frequency of consumption, quality of life indicators), and source of referral to the program. Four treatment strategies are discussed: (1) breaking the drinking behavior down into component parts (antecedents, behavior, and consequences); (2) dealing with the identified antecedents of the behavior (depression, anxiety, anger, relapse); (3) problem solving skills; and (4) an alcohol education group. Effects of the program and the present status of the GAP project are reviewed. A comparison of (1) late-life versus early-onset alcohol abusers, (2) abusers versus clients without alcohol abuse, and (3) program dropouts versus program graduates is presented. (JAC)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Counselors; Support Staff; Researchers; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A