How common is addiction among older retired adults?

Old and alcohol: According to the 2003 national household survey on drug use and health, extrapolating from its survey participants’ responses, approximately 15.5 percent and 4.2 percent of adults ages 55–59, 11.9 percent and 2.5 percent of adults ages 60–64, and 7.2 percent and 1.8 percent of adults ages 65 and older reported binge alcohol use (drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion).