5 Types of Alcoholics

About one-third of young antisocial alcoholics seek treatment for alcohol addiction. They tend to go to self-help groups, specialty treatment programs, detox programs, and treatment with individual health care providers. Confirmation of the hypothesis that only two broad categories of alcoholics exist would represent an important breakthrough for theory development and treatment matching. Treatment matching and patient placement also might profit from this knowledge, provided that different therapeutic approaches and treatment settings prove to be differentially effective with different types of alcoholics. Despite one-and-a-half centuries of progress and a remarkable acceleration of interest in alcohol research in the past two decades, these critical issues continue to define the challenge as well as the promise of typology theory. While over 6% of the American adult population suffers from AUD, only about 10% of those who need help for alcohol abuse and addiction actually seek out professional treatment, according to the NIAAA .

“Denial is huge for any alcoholic, especially for a functioning alcoholic, because I, you know, I’m not living under a bridge. In this article, we will explore the relationship between alcohol and the five types of alcoholics gallbladder, including how alcohol can contribute to the formation of gallstones and other gallbladder problems. Remember, it’s never too late to seek help and make positive changes in your life.

Understanding the Five Types of Alcoholics

As exceptions, functional and young antisocial alcoholics are more likely to be aware of their drinking problem. The young adult subtype is the most prevalent subtype, making up 31.5% of people who are alcohol dependent. The average age of dependent young adults is almost 25 years old, and they first became dependent at an average age of around 20 years old. They tend to drink less frequently than people of other types (an average of 143 days a year).

In addition, Moss said it is crucial for functional alcoholics to focus on abstinence or return to less dangerous drinking levels. Yes, intermediate familial alcoholics are often able to maintain their jobs and relationships despite their heavy drinking. However, they may experience frequent blackouts and other negative consequences as a result of their drinking. While environmental factors can play a significant role in the development of alcohol use disorder, genetics also plays an important role. Studies have shown that individuals with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder themselves. It’s important to note that young antisocial alcoholics may have a history of criminal behavior, and may struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation.

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In contrast, those in the young antisocial subtype are most often in their mid-twenties, over half of whom have a family history of alcohol addiction. These people begin drinking early in life and have an early onset of alcohol problems. You may think all cases of alcohol addiction look the same, but this isn’t always the case. Alcohol addiction can range in severity, with some people who struggle with addiction continuing to function well at work and in family life. Others may experience severe health problems and other consequences of alcohol misuse.

Our treatment programs address various subtypes of alcohol addiction, such as chronic severe alcoholics, functional alcoholics, intermediate familial alcoholics, young adult alcoholics, and young antisocial alcoholics. They are not meant as a diagnostic to determine if someone is suffering from alcoholism. Rather, they are meant to further the study of alcoholism and guide future research and prevention efforts.

Severity Levels of Alcohol Use Disorder

The NIAAA researchers found that there were five distinct patterns of alcohol dependence. In this article, we will discuss the different types and subtypes of alcoholics and the connection between alcoholism and mental health disorders. Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) is a complex disease that doesn’t always look the same or affect people in the same ways.

• Family members may experience feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration as they try to understand and cope with their loved one’s addiction.
• Most young antisocial alcoholics are also male (about three-quarters of the group).
• One of the ways that alcoholism affects mental health is by disrupting sleep patterns.
• This is a unique category of alcoholism, referring to adult alcoholics or individuals of middle age who are typically well-educated and outwardly appear to have a ‘normal’ and put-together life.

This group also suffers from high rates of cigarette, Marijuana, and Cocaine addiction. Half of those who fall into this subtype have antisocial personality disorder. Co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, are also common. A majority of the young antisocial subtype smoke cigarettes and marijuana, and addiction to opioids and cocaine are also prevalent. The functional alcoholic subtype accounts for about 19% of alcoholics and includes individuals in their early ‘40s.

Explaining The 5 Types Of Alcoholics

It is often a substance heavily correlated with mental health, but it has other significant impacts on the brain, too. Anyone can develop an alcohol addiction, though the reasons for this may vary greatly. Examples of these medications include Naltrexone (Vivitrol), Acamprosate (Campral), and Disulfiram (Antabuse). It typically includes medically monitored withdrawal, which helps reduce symptoms of withdrawal. Treatment typically includes individual and group counseling, medication, and other therapies. According to the NIAAA, to determine the level of severity, individuals are asked questions similar to what’s listed below.