Course Description: This narrative review article examines the empirical literature on alcohol prevention interventions for adults aged 50 and older, published between 1999 and 2024. The course covers the physiological changes that make older adults particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related harm, the generational factors that shape attitudes toward alcohol and responses to prevention interventions, and the evidence base for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention approaches. Drawing on 51 intervention studies and 16 articles on consumer and provider perspectives, the course explores barriers and facilitators to successful interventions, the role of assessment as a therapeutic tool, and the growing evidence supporting digital interventions. Special attention is given to the differential responses of The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, and Generation X to various intervention modalities, settings, and components.
This course on alcohol prevention interventions among older adults is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of alcohol misuse prevention and intervention strategies for older adult populations. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal.
Authors: Kuerbis, Behrendt, Elswick, Kostelic, and Schultz
Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with detailed information about alcohol prevention interventions among older adults. Specifically, the practitioner will:
1. Identify key physiological, generational, and epidemiological factors that influence older adults’ vulnerability to alcohol misuse and their responses to prevention interventions.
2. Describe the evidence base for primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohol prevention interventions among older adults, including the role of assessment, SBIRT, digital modalities, and identified components of successful interventions.
3. Apply evidence-based, age-appropriate, and generation-sensitive principles when selecting and adapting alcohol prevention interventions for diverse older adult clients.
Citation: Kuerbis, A., Behrendt, S., Elswick, A., Kostelic, A. F., & Schultz, S. (2025). A narrative review of alcohol prevention interventions among older adults. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 45(1), 10.
This course is Non Interactive .
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