U.S. census figures forecast that the percentage of U.S. citizens over the age of 65 will double between 1980 and 2030. Estimates that between 3 and 10% of this group are prone to alcohol abuse points to the potential for an increasingly ominous health care problem. Alcohol and Aging, the first comprehensive treatment of the topic written for clinicians, covers a wide range of issues unique to elderly alcoholics, from diagnosis and treatment to alcohol-related medical and cognitive disorders, from problems arising from interactions between alcohol and medication to the biochemistry of intoxication. Throughout, the book focuses on clinical, practical problems and stays away from jargon, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Featuring contributions a diverse group of specialists, the book will be an invaluable aid to physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers who treat alcoholism in the aging population.