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Older peoples' narratives of use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs.

BACKGROUND
Studies revealed that misuse of drugs and alcohol is an increasing phenomenon among older people (aged 65 years and above), and we know that such misuse is a risk factor for mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, we do not know to what extent older people have experiences, understanding and knowledge about the use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs.


AIM
To investigate older peoples' experiences with and reflections on the use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs among older people.


METHOD
Qualitative interviews with 16 older people were performed during 2013 and 2014. The sample included informants aged from 65 to 92 years from 11 municipalities. The data were analysed by using the phenomenological hermeneutic method.


FINDINGS
The first theme that arose from the informants' narratives was to be a part of a culture in change that details the informants' experiences with and reflections on the cultural changes regarding the use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs. This theme is divided into three subthemes: to use and attitudes toward use, to trivialise use and risks of use, and to disclaim responsibility for use and misuse. The second theme, to explain use and misuse involved reasons for the use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs. It included the subthemes: to be afraid, to be lonely, and to be informed.


CONCLUSION
The study revealed that most informants had experiences with the use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs, but disclaimed any challenges with their use. The use was trivialised and seen as something older people just do. They disclaimed responsibility for their own psychotropic use as their general practitioners were defined as the responsible persons. Moreover, the study showed that the informants had poor knowledge about the risk of use and misuse of alcohol and psychotropic drugs.