Author: James Anderson

Is Anyone Really a High-Functioning Alcoholic?

Even though they may want to stop, many functioning alcoholics often won’t know where or how to begin the process. This is where family, friends and medical professionals can work together to create a plan to help end this cycle before they do more harm to themselves. The most in-depth care allows you to live full time at a treatment facility. These setups can also work along with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Relating to other people with substance abuse issues may help someone break through denial and begin to recover. The term “currently-functioning” may be used since it’s not likely they will remain functional (and not misuse alcohol) indefinitely.

Whether you have an alcoholic spouse, partner or other loved one, you may be wondering how to help. High-functioning alcoholics can benefit from having an at-home support system before, during and after any form of treatment for their addiction. There are hundreds of resources all over the country designed to address the issue of alcohol abuse and addiction. Although you may still hear people talking about “alcoholism” or “alcohol abuse,” the official term is alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Drinking Alone, Secretly, or at Unconventional Times

If you think that you or someone you know may be drinking too much, ask your doctor about getting help – whether it’s from a therapist, psychiatrist, or other addiction specialist. Organizations such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine can guide you to help, too. The classic picture of someone with alcohol use disorder is someone who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart because of it.

1. Consciously or unconsciously, the codependent may help the alcoholic to continue drinking to maintain the status quo.
2. Some people with AUD may attend an inpatient recovery program, in which they stay at a facility for at least 28 days to receive concentrated treatment in a controlled environment.
3. These criteria are often internal struggles, not observable to others.
4. “Functioning alcoholic” is an outdated term that in the past was used to describe people with alcohol use disorder who appear to meet their everyday responsibilities.
5. According to 2020 data by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people died that year from alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis).

These numbers do not include people who have died in alcohol-related accidents or violence, so the overall number is likely much higher. Since people with high-functioning AUD can be on the milder spectrum of the condition, the earlier treatment happens, the more it may be possible to avoid a progression. It can also ultimately lead to relationship difficulties as well as legal and financial problems. If needed, your doctor may also order blood tests to check your liver function. There are no official diagnostic criteria for what it means to be high functioning.

What Percentage of Alcoholics are Functioning or High Functioning Alcoholics?

A doctor may also diagnose AUD by asking about your health history and drinking patterns. If you give permission, they may speak to your family or loved ones regarding how much you drink. For example, you might imagine an “alcoholic” as someone who is constantly near-blackout drunk, and someone who’s unable to maintain a job or family life. While their appearance may not be any different and they can still fulfill their responsibilities, you’ll start to see a pattern develop of turning to alcohol to cope with family, work or personal issues. By Sarah Bence, OTR/LSarah Bence, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist and freelance writer. She specializes in a variety of health topics including mental health, dementia, celiac disease, and endometriosis.

And it’s all still problem drinking, even if you think it’s “mild.” If AUD goes unrecognized and untreated, it’s linked to risks in many aspects of your health and life. If someone close to you is a high functioning alcoholic, it’s just as important to seek support for yourself as it is to get help for your loved one. You likely have questions about how to deal with an alcoholic, or how to help an alcoholic. Self-help organizations, church groups, and 12-step programs like Al-Anon and Alateen offer advice, hope and encouragement to people involved with functioning alcoholics. Unfortunately, even when functional alcoholics begin to recognize that they have a drinking problem, they still resist reaching out for help.

However, this and other related misnomers such as “functional alcoholic” are no longer used because of the potential stigma that can prevent someone from seeking help. As their reliance on alcohol increases, you may begin to notice that your loved one downplays the role alcohol has in their lives and makes excuses for their actions, especially their drinking. Support from other people who struggle with alcohol use disorder is an integral part of recovery, alongside medical treatment. If someone you are close to is living with alcohol use disorder, you may be looking for ways to help them cope with the impacts of their disease on your own life. In addition to the health effects of having an alcohol use disorder, it can also take a toll on relationships. Drinking doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects the entire family unit.

For example, a computed tomography (CT) scan tests for liver enlargement, which can occur after years of chronic drinking. Your doctor may order this test if your blood tests indicate abnormal liver functioning. There is research showing that about 19.5 percent of people with AUD are middle-aged, well-educated, and have stable jobs, homes, and families. This could include people with high-functioning AUD, but these criteria are not definitive characteristics.

For this reason, it is hard to determine exactly how many people might have high-functioning AUD. They may try to quit independently, but the withdrawals are too unpleasant or severe. Therefore, they continue to drink to keep the withdrawals at bay, and the cycle continues. Managing AUD is a lifelong process, so the earlier you or your loved one seeks help, the more likely you are to succeed in overcoming the disorder and limiting recurrence.

Drinking alone or being secretive about drinking can be another sign of alcohol use disorder. Drinking alcohol at unconventional times—such as early in the day or at gatherings where nobody else is drinking—is another hallmark of this disease. One sign that someone may have alcohol use disorder is that they consume excessive amounts of alcohol. This can look like binge drinking (drinking a lot over a short period) or heavy drinking (drinking a lot over a more extended period). Below are some signs that you or someone you love may be living with alcohol use disorder.

Why we no longer say high-functioning alcoholic

Nearly 20% of alcoholics are highly functional and well-educated with good incomes. “Functioning alcoholic” is an outdated term that in the past was used to describe people with alcohol use disorder who appear to meet their everyday responsibilities. However, alcohol use disorder is diagnosed based on a set of criteria that aren’t always seen by others. The longer you live with AUD, the higher your risk of developing complications that can lead to death. According to 2020 data by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people died that year from alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis).

However, a doctor should recommend the best type of treatment for each person since the severity and presentation can vary from person to person. For some people, AUD may also mean more than physical dependence, but a stress reliever or source of psychological escape. Since you only need to fulfill 2 or more of the DSM-5 criteria within the last year to be diagnosed with AUD, you might still be fully contributing to your home life, job, and other areas of your life. However, there are individuals that meet the criteria for AUD but do not experience these impacts.

If you have AUD but are not connected with treatment, the risk of progressing to more severe AUD is much greater. In addition, since the impact of AUD may not be as obvious, the person may be unable to recognize the severity of their condition in these early stages. People who are close to a person with AUD may need support to understand how to help their loved ones.

Dietary Guidelines define moderate drinking as one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Binge drinking is defined as having four or more beverages in one drinking episode for women and five or more beverages for men (a typical drinking episode is around two hours). Sometimes, people with alcohol use disorder don’t recognize their drinking is an issue, especially if they meet their work and home life responsibilities despite their alcohol dependence. As such, they may justify their drinking as a normal part of life—even though it isn’t. The participants in an intervention could include the alcoholic’s spouse or partner, children, parents, friends, coworkers, employer, friends and other individuals who have been affected.

There may also be new legal issues arising for them, like driving under the influence or making other poor decisions. It can be hard to stop enabling someone you care about once you’ve recognized it. Try to talk openly to the person about your concerns, and encourage them to seek help from resources like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.