Alcohol and medications can be a dangerous combination.
One-in-three people over 60 are at greater risk of health complications due to accidentally mixing their medications with alcohol. Seniors will soon be able to test themselves in their own home to see if they are at risk.
Peninsula Drug and Alcohol Program Psychologist, Stephen Bright, is developing an online ‘risk assessment’ survey for seniors who may unaware of how their drinking may be impacting on their medications.
Stephen has recently been awarded a $50,000 Fellowship Grant for the research proposal.
“Unfortunately, screening tools currently available within Australia are ineffective and are not very good at identifying ‘risky drinking’ among older adults. They do not assess factors, such as use of medications or chronic disease, which need to be considered when determining an older adult’s level of risk,” Stephen said.
“The Alcohol-Related Problems Survey or the ARPS – a self-administered screening measure developed by the UCLA Medical School in America – is a tool which incorporates all of these issues,” Stephen added.
The ARPS has not been available for use within Australia due to differences in the volume of a ‘standard drink’.
Stephen’s research involves a partnership with UCLA that will Australianise the ARPS. This will include recalibrating the way data is calculated and measured through the ARPS to determine an individual’s level of risk at a more effective rate than existing screening tools.
“The online survey will either be accessed in one’s own home or under the guidance of a health care professional, during a one-on-one consultation, who can then discuss the details of the survey’s report.
“Questions in the survey will focus on the relationship between alcohol consumption, health problems and medication use and is expected to take around 15 minutes to complete.
“It will include questions on the quantity and frequency of alcohol use, symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependence, presence of medical and psychiatric conditions, symptoms of disease, smoking behaviour, medication use, physical function, and demographics.
“It then classifies patients as nonhazardous, hazardous, or harmful drinkers. This aims to make older adults more educated and aware of whether their drinking is putting them at risk of adverse medication reactions or health complications.”
The research project is now in an initial stage of recalibrating ARPS data. The online questionnaire is scheduled to be launched in February 2011.
“With healthcare providers across the country being able to easily access and utilise the survey once its launched online, it is expected that a greater number of older adults whose drinking places them at-risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm will be identified,” Stephen said.
“Providing these individuals with early intervention will assist health care professionals to understand how to prevent the onset of related illness and disease, as well as to promote good health and wellbeing,” Stephen added.
Stephen was awarded the funding through the Mental Health and Drugs Research Fellowship Grant Program from the Department of Health. This Program supports clinicians to undertake research that benefits consumers and alcohol and other drug clients of mental health, treatment and support services.
If you or somebody you know, aged 60 and over, would like to know whether alcohol is having a harmful effect on existing medications, please contact Peninsula Health’s Reducing Risky Drinking Program. To book a free appointment, call the access team on 9784 8100.
