Author: James Anderson

5 Types of Alcoholics Characteristics of Each Alcoholic Type

When a person suffers from a co-occurring mental health disorder, the risk for also developing alcoholism or problems with substance abuse are elevated. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes that co-occurring mental health disorders and addiction are common, as about 8 million adults in America battled both in 2014. 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. 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.

Alcohol use disorder is a multifaceted issue that affects individuals differently. Understanding the various types of alcoholics helps tailor treatment and support to meet their specific needs and get help. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorder, please explore our comprehensive resources and inpatient and outpatient treatment options at Caron. Nearly half of them have a close family member who is also an alcoholic.

Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. Chronic severe alcoholics have the highest rate of family members who also experience alcohol dependence at 77%. 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.

They have the highest divorce rate — 25.1 percent — of all the alcoholic types. Only 9 percent have gone to college, and only 43 percent are employed full time. They drink more heavily than any other type of alcoholic, consuming alcohol 248 days of the year on average and drinking five or more drinks 69 percent of the time.

Many also suffer from other mental illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, social phobias and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. In the U.S., chronic severe alcoholics comprise 9% of all alcoholics. The chronic severe subtype is the smallest but most severe of all the categories of alcoholism. This subtype of alcoholics is generally in their mid-20s and started drinking young. Early episodes of binge and heavy drinking (binge drinking on five or more days in the same month) can elevate the risk for struggling with alcohol-related issues later in life.

Outpatient Treatment

While functional alcoholics may not binge drink, they do drink more alcohol than the average person. 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.

1. 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.
2. Young adults tend to drink less often than older alcoholics, but they binge drink more.
3. Moreover, many don’t believe they have a drinking problem until they start experiencing health issues.
4. Around one-quarter of intermediate familial alcoholics seek treatment for drinking-related problems.
5. If you or someone you love falls into othese categories, do not hesitate.

This group has one of the lowest education levels of any subtype and also has the lowest employment rate. This group drinks more frequently than any other, although their total alcohol intake is less than the young antisocial subtype. Two-thirds of this subtype have sought help for their alcoholism at some point, making them by far the most likely to have done so. They often seek help at self-help groups, rehabilitation programs, and detox programs. They have the highest rate of seeking treatment at an inpatient program and also seek out help from private physicians, psychiatrists, and social workers at high rates.

What are the Types of Alcohol Problems?

About 64% are male, while around 38% are married and 21% are divorced. Over 6 percent of American adults battled an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2015, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) publishes. Less than 10 percent of adults in the United States who struggled with alcoholism in 2015 received professional treatment for the disease, NIAAA further reports. Someone who drinks to excess on a regular basis can face very real health problems due to ongoing alcohol abuse. The British website DrinkAware points out that people who drink heavily over a period of several weeks or months can develop very high levels of alcohol-related enzymes in the gut.

They have an average age of 38 years, began drinking at almost age 17, and developed alcohol dependence at an average age of 32 years. Intermediate familial alcoholics drink on an average of 172 days a year, consuming five or more drinks on 54% of those days with a maximum of 10 drinks. Only 8.7% of young adult alcohol dependents have ever sought treatment for their drinking problem. If they do choose to seek help, they tend to prefer 12-step programs over specialty treatment clinics or private professional practices. More than a quarter have sought help for their drinking at some point through self-help groups, treatment programs, alcohol detox programs and health care providers.

You’ll also know why it requires special treatment for successful recovery. While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. Multiple different reasons can spur someone to drink until they’ve become dependent on alcohol. We surveyed 2,136 American adults who either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not). No two alcoholics are exactly the same, but many people with alcoholism share common characteristics.

Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Most are smokers, and 20 to 25 percent have also used cocaine and marijuana. But they started drinking much earlier than young adult alcoholics — usually by the age of 15 or 16. 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. Of the five alcoholic subtypes, intermediate familial individuals have the highest employment rates and an average family income of $50,000 yearly.

If you or a loved one suffers from alcohol use disorder (AUD), you must seek addiction treatment. Luckily, there are several treatment options for all types of alcoholics. Functional alcoholics make up 19.4% of alcohol-dependent individuals. 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.

Young Antisocial Alcoholics

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. 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. But no matter your age, status, family, or subtype, alcoholism can create long-term problems that damage your health and relationships.

“Denial is huge for any alcoholic, especially for a functioning alcoholic, because I, you know, I’m not living under a bridge.