A clinic nurse interviews four patients between 70 and 80 years of age. Which patient should have further assessment regarding the risk of alcohol addiction? The patient:

A) with a history of intermittent problems of alcohol misuse early in life and who now consumes one glass of wine nightly with dinner.
B) with no history of alcohol-related problems until age 65 years, when the patient began to drink alcohol daily "to keep my mind off my arthritis."
C) who drank socially throughout adult life and continues this pattern, saying, "I've earned the right to do as I please."
D) who abused alcohol between the ages of 25 and 40 years but now abstains and occasionally attends Alcoholics Anonymous.

Question

Karen Ariana · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  Alcohol addiction can develop at any age, and the geriatric population is particularly at risk. The geriatric problem drinker is defined as someone who has no history of alcohol-related problems but develops an alcohol-abuse pattern in response to the stresses of aging. The incorrect responses profile alcohol use that is not problematic.

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