AGING,

MEDICINES

and ALCOHOL

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

www.samhsa.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

AGING,

MEDICINES

and ALCOHOL

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Because medicine and alcohol

misuse can happen unintentionally, it's important to know

if you're having a problem.

Here are some signals that may 

indicate an alcohol or 

medication-related problem:

• Memory trouble after having a 

 drink or taking medicine

• Loss of coordination (walking

 unsteadily, frequent falls)

• Changes in sleeping habits

• Unexplained bruises

• Being unsure of yourself

• Irritability, sadness, depression

• Unexplained chronic pain

• Changes in eating habits 

• Wanting to stay alone a lot 

 of the time

• Failing to bathe or keep clean

• Having trouble finishing

 sentences

• Having trouble concentrating

• Difficulty staying in touch with

 family or friends

 • Lack of interest in usual

 activities
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Share the right information

with your health care

professional:

 • Make a list for your doctor of all

your medications (including

doses), especially on your first

visit. Keep it updated, and carry

it with you.

 • Remind your doctor or pharmacist

about any previous conditions

that might affect your ability

to take certain medicines, such

as a stroke, hypertension,

serious heart disease, liver

problems or lung disease.

 • Don't be afraid to ask questions

if you don't know the meaning 

of a word, if instructions are

unclear, or if you want more

information.

 • Whenever possible, have your 

doctor or a member of the

medical staff give you written

advice or instructions.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

If you want to talk to a qualified care 

professional about alcohol and 

medications, a 24-hour hotline is 

available: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 

or visit www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

For Health Care Professionals:

This brochure was produced by Johnson, 

Bassin & Shaw, Inc., under Contract Number 

270-04-7049, for the Center for Substance 

Abuse Treatment (CSAT) of the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 

CDM Group, Inc., developed the Englishlanguage version of this product, under 

Contract Number 270-99-7072. Magna 

Systems, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA), provided 

translation services. Christina Currier 

served as the Government Project Officer.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The content of this publication does 

not necessarily reflect the views or 

policies of CSAT, SAMHSA, or HHS. 

For further information or to 

request additional information 

about this publication, please 

contact Christina Currier at 

ccurrier@samhsa.gov. 

Public Domain Notice: All material 

appearing in this product is in the 

public domain and may be 

reproduced or copied without 

permission; citation of the source 

is appreciated. However, this 

publication may not be reproduced 

or distributed for a fee without the 

specific, written authorization of 

the Office of Communications, 

SAMHSA, HHS.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

This brochure was created to 

accompany the publication 

Substance Abuse Among Older 

Adults, #26 in CSAT's Treatment 

Improvement Protocol (TIP) series. 

The TIP series and its affiliated 

products are available free from 

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse 

for Alcohol and Drug Information 

(NCADI). Call 1-800-729-6686 or 

1-800-487-4889 TDD (for the 

hearing impaired), or visit 

www.csat.samhsa.gov.