Alcohol and Drug Use in the Elderly Visited at Home

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Abstract
During a 3 yr prospective study, 223 new patients aged 65 and over were seen at their own residences. This setting enabled a detailed record to be made of current medication and alcohol use. The average consumption was 2.9 different drugs daily per patient, but 1/3 of the patients took 4 or more different preparations. One patient in 10 showed a severe alcohol-related problem. These findings were in a group with an average age of 77, not overtly physical ill, referred for a psychiatric opinion.