About AAAG

The Alcohol and Aging Awareness Group (AAAG), a national and state award winning group, was founded in 2007 by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to address the hidden epidemic of alcohol and medication misuse among older adults. The AAAG's vision is: Virginians aging successfully, safe from alcohol and medication misuse. The mission of the AAAG is to be the leader in providing education, training and resources on the use of alcohol and medication as adults age. Since its founding, the AAAG has supplied more than 200,000 pieces of educational resources and held numerous professional trainings on the topic of alcohol and medication misuse for older adults and their service providers.

2011 Conference

The Hidden Epidemic: Alcohol, Medication and the Older Adult, September 22, 2011, Fairfax, Virginia.

Nationally recognized keynote speaker Kristen Lawton Barry, Ph.D., University of Michigan, presented along with Patricia Slattum, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, Constance Coogle, Ph.D., Virginia Center on Aging, and Regina Whitsett, formerly of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and past AAAG Chair. The conference focused on best practices for treating older adults with alcohol and medication misuse disorders. More than 200 professionals working with older adults as well as caregivers, family members and advocates attended the conference.

he conference was held at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia. Accommodations were made available at the Marriott Fairfax at Fair Oaks, 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033, Phone: (800) 228-9290.

Conference Presentations

For convenience, power point presentations delivered at the Sept. 22, 2011 conference in Fairfax, Va. are available for download below:

• Older Virginians Mental Health Month

Kristen Lawton Barry, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Keynote Speaker)

• At-Risk Alcohol Use in Older Adults: Background on Problem, Screening, Brief Interventions, Brief Treatments and Mental Health Comorbities
• The Use of Brief Interventions for At-Risk Drinking in Older Adults
• Video Download - Brief Alcohol Interventions for Older Adults (MOV Video File)

Patricia W. Slattum, Pharm.D., Ph.D., CGP, Virginia Commonwealth University (Afternoon session)

• Identifying and Managing Alcohol and Medication Interactions in Older Adults

Constance Coogle, Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, and Regina Whitsett, Virginia ABC and Chair, Alcohol and Aging Awareness Group (Afternoon session)

• Creating a NOVA Regional AAAG

More Information

For more information about AAAG, please visit www.abc.virginia.gov/Education/olderadults/aging.html.