Author: John Carter

Understanding the Five Types of Alcoholics Get Help For Alcohol Addiction

This group also suffers from high rates of cigarette, marijuana, and cocaine addiction. Chronic severe alcoholics often smoke and may also suffer from cocaine, opioid, and/or marijuana dependence in addition to alcohol addiction. This subtype of alcoholics is the most likely to seek treatment and the most heavily represented type of alcoholic in a treatment program.

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And because they don’t look or act like the stereotypical alcoholic, they’re often in denial about their drinking problem. Nearly 32 percent of alcoholics fall into the young adult category, making it the most prevalent subtype in the U.S. The typical young adult alcoholic is about 25 and started drinking at age 19 or 20. Men outnumber women 2.5 times to 1 in this category, and they tend to be single. Classifying alcoholism into subtypes can also help identify and remove barriers to professional assessment and treatment. For example, those in the chronic and severe subgroup tend to have the lowest socioeconomic status.

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To understand this complex and unique disorder, it’s essential to learn the different types of alcoholics. It’s also critical to understand their experiences with substance abuse. Nearly 50 percent of intermediate familial alcoholics have a family history of alcoholism.

Of the five alcoholic subtypes, intermediate familial individuals have the highest employment rates and an average family income of $50,000 yearly. Functional alcoholics have an average household income of almost $60,000 and the lowest rates of legal issues. In addition, 17% seek substance addiction treatment at private facilities. While functional alcoholics may not binge drink, they do drink more alcohol than the average person. A study by scientists at the NIAAA, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), analyzed 1,484 survey respondents who met specific diagnostic criteria for alcohol addiction. They also have the highest divorce rates, with 25.1% divorced, 8.6% separated and only 28.7% married.

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1. The following checklists for each type can help you determine which subtype you might fall into.
2. The young adult subtype also often abuses other substances besides alcohol and rarely seeks treatment.
3. This subtype is the most likely of any to experience major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder.
4. Often, these individuals are high-functioning, maintaining stable jobs, relationships, and responsibilities.
5. This group also drinks more at once and more overall than other groups, although they drink slightly less frequently.

To achieve sobriety, he says, treatment must focus on “complete abstinence and elimination of other forms of substance abuse and also mainstreaming their behaviors” so they function better in society. No two alcoholics are exactly the same, but many people with alcoholism share common characteristics. If you’re dealing with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and need help to stay sober, reach out to an addiction specialist to help get the treatment you need. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Some outgrow their problem drinking, while others develop an addiction to alcohol as they age.

Researchers found that 21.1 percent of alcoholics fall into this category. Their alcoholism usually manifests by the time they are 18 or 19, and more than half come from families with alcoholism. Person-centered treatment helps provide treatment modalities that are most suited to the individual. For example, those with co-occurring mental health disorders typically require integrated substance use and mental health treatment—known as dual diagnosis treatment—to fully recover. The good news is they’re more likely to seek treatment than those in other groups at 66%.

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Those who do tend to make use of 12-step programs and private health care professionals. Alcohol is often implicated in exacerbating aggression, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) publishes that 40 percent of all violent crimes cite alcohol as a contributing factor. Chronic severe alcoholics suffer from psychiatric disorders more often than other subtypes of alcoholics, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. One such issue is that of a perceived need for professional help and recognition that a problem with alcohol exists. In 2013, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that of those who needed treatment and didn’t receive it, approximately 95.5 percent didn’t feel they needed it. The intermediate familial subtype represents individuals with a family history of alcoholism and a genetic predisposition to addiction.

Many members of this group smoke cigarettes, but few have other substance use disorders. It is determined that roughly 31.5% of alcoholics fall into the category of young adults, which is the largest single group. This group tends to begin drinking at an early age (around 19) and also develops an alcohol dependence early (around 24). This group has comparatively low rates of co-occurring mental health conditions and moderate rates of other substance use disorders and family members with alcoholism. The young adult subtype refers to individuals who develop alcohol dependence early in life.

Different individuals may require different approaches based on their specific needs and circumstances. In this section, we will explore some common treatment options and support systems available for individuals struggling with alcoholism. The chronic severe subtype represents individuals with the most severe and debilitating form of alcoholism. This group experiences significant physical, psychological, and social consequences due to their alcohol dependency.

About75%have never been married,36.5%are still in school, and54%work full time. Approximately22%have a first- or second-degree family member who is also dependent on alcohol. Compared to other types of alcoholics, young adults areless likely to have psychiatric disorders or legal problems. Close to 80 percent of chronic severe alcoholics have a genetic and familial link to alcoholism, meaning that a close family member also suffered, or suffers, from alcoholism.

Because not every case of alcoholism is the same, tailoring addiction treatment to the individual person may help improve rates of success. But no matter your age, status, family, or subtype, alcoholism can create long-term problems that damage your health and relationships. Not all alcoholics know they suffer from a substance abuse problem because denial is a regular and expected aspect of alcoholism. As exceptions, functional and young antisocial alcoholics are more likely to be aware of their drinking problem.

The young adult subtype refers to individuals who develop alcohol dependence during their late teens or early twenties. This group often exhibits impulsive behavior, engages in high-risk activities, and struggles with emotional instability. They may consume alcohol excessively in social settings and are more likely to engage in binge drinking. Despite these tendencies, individuals in this group may not display severe physical or psychological consequences early on. Most intermediate familial alcoholics begin drinking around age 17 and develop alcoholism later in life, around age 32.