Older adult problem drinkers: who presents for alcohol treatment?

Objectives: To describe a treatment population of older adults (60+ years) assessed for alcohol treatment over a 20-year period.

Method: Retrospective analysis of alcohol treatment assessment data relating to all older adults assessed by one UK NHS Trust Community Alcohol Team (n = 585) between April 1988 and March 2008.

Results: Over the 20-year period, the number of assessments per year increased though the demographic profile of those assessed for treatment remained the same: male (62%), white ethnic origin (94%) and average age 65.

Intervention against excessive alcohol consumption in primary health care: a survey of GPs' attitudes and practices in England 10 years on.

Aims: To ascertain the views of general practitioners (GPs) regarding the prevention and management of alcohol-related problems in practice, together with perceived barriers and incentives for this work; to compare our findings with a comparable survey conducted 10 years earlier.

Methods: In total, 282 (73%) of 419 GPs surveyed in East Midlands, UK, completed a postal questionnaire, measuring practices and attitudes, including the Shortened Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire (SAAPPQ).

Results: GPs reported lower levels of post-graduate education or training on alcohol-related issues (<4 h for the majority) than in 1999 but not significantly so (P = 0.