Social Determinants of Combined Use of Alcohol and Nonprescription Drugs in Older Adults: A Population-based Study in Chile

Abstract

Alcohol consumption by older adults has been called the “silent epidemic.” An aging population and high levels of alcohol consumption increase the future challenge for epidemiology and public health. In addition, the misuse of prescription drugs is a growing public health problem associated with increased hospitalizations and health complications in older adults. Aim: To analyze the social determinants associated with problematic alcohol and prescription drug use in the older adult population in the country. Methods: Analysis of SENDA’s population-based survey of drug and alcohol use in older adults from 2021. A multivariate statistical model was used to identify the factors that increase or decrease the probability of occurrence of the phenomenon. Results: The prevalence of alcohol and prescription drug use in older adults in Chile reached 12.8%. At the multivariate level, it is men, with less social support and without sentimental cohabitation, who have a higher probability of combining alcohol consumption with prescription drugs.Conclusions: The combination of alcohol and medicine without medical prescription is a potential public health problem, especially among older adults. This study represents a national effort to understand this phenomenon, identifying the most vulnerable groups with the highest prevalence of consumption to which public prevention policies should give special attention.