Of this type, about 76% are male and only 7.6% have received a college degree, although another 13.4% are still in school. Family incomes average around $32,000, the lowest among the subtypes alongside the chronic severe subtype. Young antisocial alcoholics have a high rate of psychiatric disorders and celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome other substance abuse.
Do Alcoholics Know They Are Alcoholics?
Around one-quarter of the functional alcoholic demographic have had at least one major depressive episode in their lives as well. Depression and mood disorders commonly co-occur with alcohol abuse and can increase a person’s vulnerability to addiction. The functional alcoholic may be good at covering up emotional distress and issues with alcohol, and able to maintain outward appearances of success. Binge drinking is a pattern of excessive alcohol use that increases the risk for developing tolerance and then physical dependence on alcohol that can then lead to addiction.
Who is at risk for alcohol misuse?
Young adults tend to drink less often than older alcoholics, but they binge drink more. The young adult subtype also often abuses other substances besides alcohol and rarely seeks treatment. Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment. Behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Medications also can help deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk of a return to drinking (e.g., divorce, death of a family member).
- This subtype of alcoholics is the most likely to seek treatment and the most heavily represented type of alcoholic in a treatment program.
- However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) performed a study to categorize different alcoholics to note their similarities.
- Alcoholism is considered to be a heritable disease, as NIAAA reports that genetics can account for about half of the risk for developing the disease.
- Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.
- Intermediate familial alcoholics are similar to functional ones but are more likely born with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism.
However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. The NIAAA researchers found that there were five distinct patterns of alcohol dependence. Licensed therapists work with people who are misusing alcohol to help them stop drinking. They also help people identify and avoid their triggers for drinking. Alcohol intoxication causes slowed speech and reflexes, difficulty in concentration and memory, and poor decision-making.
Treating Alcohol Use Disorders
Severity is based on the number of criteria a person meets based on their symptoms—mild substance abuse games for groups (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). People with ASPD are 21 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence in their lifetimes. Meanwhile, alcohol is more likely to increase aggressive behaviors in people with ASPD than in people without. This may be because alcohol interferes with executive functioning in the brain, which regulates and inhibits aggressive behavior. People with ASPD also show impaired executive functioning, which may make them particularly vulnerable to this effect.
Alcohol use disorder includes a level of drinking that’s sometimes called alcoholism. The five types of alcoholics deal with one or more alcohol problems. The best way to find a successful treatment program is to understand alcohol issues in-depth. 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. The study included people both fun recovery games for groups in treatment and not seeking treatment.
By better understanding the different types of alcoholics, treatment methods can be personalized to the individual, making them more desirable and effective for a healthy recovery. Chronic severe alcoholics suffer from psychiatric disorders more often than other subtypes of alcoholics, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. Co-occurring disorders are optimally treated with an integrated program that can help to manage both disorders at the same time. Around one-quarter of intermediate familial alcoholics seek treatment for drinking-related problems.
The chronic severe subtype is the least prevalent, accounting for only about 9 percent of alcoholics.13 However, this group is the most severe, with heavy drinking occurring almost daily. In many cases, you may not expect a functional alcoholic to have a problem. That’s because they can balance their drinking with their personal and professional life.
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Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Family members and friends can recognize the type of alcoholic by observing their loved one’s behaviors and their impact on relationships. Still, professional guidance is often needed to provide effective support.
This subtype of alcoholics is typically middle-aged, well-educated, and may seem to have it all “together” on the outside. They are likely have a steady job, a seemingly stable family life, and do not often fit into the traditional stereotype of an alcoholic. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours. The good news is they’re more likely to seek treatment than those in other groups at 66%. They are also the most likely to participate in detox programs at inpatient treatment centers with private health care providers.
Alcoholism is considered to be a heritable disease, as NIAAA reports that genetics can account for about half of the risk for developing the disease. The flip side of this coin, however, is that environmental and other factors make up the other half of the risks for the onset of addiction. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
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. In the U.S., the young antisocial subtype comprises 21% of all alcoholics. The young antisocial alcoholic subtype starts drinking at 15 and develops an AUD around 18. Most young antisocial alcoholics are also male (about three-quarters of the group). To understand this complex and unique disorder, it’s essential to learn the different types of alcoholics.
They also have a later age of first drinking (average of 19 years) and a later onset of alcohol dependence at an average of 37 years. They tend to drink alcohol every other day, an average of 181 days per year, and they consume five or more drinks on 54% of those days. The terms “alcoholism” and “alcoholic” carry a heavy stigma that can discourage individuals from seeking help. By having a better understanding of what type of alcoholic you may be, it can be easier to recognize that you would benefit from an alcohol addiction treatment program.
Treatment providers can help you to determine what form of treatment will be optimal for your specific needs and circumstances. Alcoholism is a manageable disease; treatment is necessary to manage it. While functional alcoholics may not binge drink, they do drink more alcohol than the average person. In the U.S., the young adult alcoholic subtype comprises 31.5% of all alcoholics. This demographic’s average age is 24, with most being male, single, still in school, and with family histories of alcoholism.
Our admissions navigators can also help you start the treatment admissions process, discuss ways to cover the cost of treatment, and help verify your insurance coverage. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) identified five different types of . Detoxification usually lasts a few days to a week, depending on the severity of your addiction. Detoxification helps you withdraw from alcohol safely and comfortably. This process begins with medical evaluation and stabilization before beginning the detox process.