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Older hospital admissions alcohol linked

WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Almost half of the admissions to substance-abuse treatment among people age 50 and up were specifically for alcohol abuse, finds a U.S. study.

Men accounted for 80 percent of the alcohol-specific admissions, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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The report, "Older Adult Alcohol Admissions: 2003," notes that older adults, age 50 and up, admitted to substance abuse treatment solely for alcohol abuse were more likely to be first-time treatment participants than were persons admitted for other reasons. They were also less likely to have personally sought treatment than were older adults admitted for treatment of other substance abuse. However, older adults admitted for alcohol treatment were more likely to have been referred for care by the criminal justice system, the report said.

"Alcohol abuse among older adults is something few want to talk about, and a problem for which even fewer seek treatment on their own," said Charles Curie, SAMHSA administrator. "Too often, family members are ashamed of the problem and choose not to address it. Healthcare providers tend not to ask older patients about alcohol abuse if it wasn't a problem in their lives in earlier years."

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