Help Available For Senior Alcohol Abuse
Pat Sweeting Reporting
Do you have concerns about an older parent or grandparent's drinking habits? Help is available in the form of a pocket-sized screening questionnaire from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The questionnaire is designed to help in determining if a problem exists.
Using the Alcohol Screening Test - Geriatric Version -- a mental health professional, doctor or volunteer could ask questions like:
• Do you ever underestimate how much you drink when describing your drinking habits to others?
• Does drinking quiet tremors or shakiness?
• Does the person ever forget portions of the day or night after drinking?
• Is alcohol consumption used as a way to forget the stressors of the day?
If yes was the response to two or more of these questions, it's recommended that a referral be made for a complete assessment. Through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's hotline, information on treatment providers is available 24 hours-a-day.
Hotline number: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Web address: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
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