Alcohol is one of the most widely used addictive substances in the U.S., with 84% of adults aged 18 and older having tried it in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, it’s important 5 types of alcoholics to seek professional help. A healthcare provider can provide an assessment and recommend appropriate treatment options. Remember, there is no shame in seeking help for addiction – it’s a sign of strength and courage.

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Since they were overlooked, they may have difficulties being in relationships of any kind, or feel unworthy of love or affection. These adults may struggle just to have friendships, let alone any kind of romantic relationship. Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education. Alcoholism affects individuals of all ages, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• One notable characteristic of individuals in this subtype is their ability to maintain a relatively high level of functioning in their personal and professional lives despite their alcohol dependence.
• Those who do tend to make use of 12-step programs and private health care professionals.
• It is essential to realize that the reality of alcoholism is very different from what many imagine and that there are different types of alcoholics.
• The young adult subtype is less likely to have a full-time job but is more likely to be in college than other groups.
• Out of all the other subtypes, this one rates the highest for abuse of other substances and other psychiatric disorders.

Characteristics of Young Adult Subtype

Unlike the previous type, this group is defined by the co-occurrence of mental disorders. They come from families where alcohol dependency may be common, leading to early exposure and abuse. This detrimental exposure can create or aggravate existing mental health disorders like major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Along with the abuse of alcohol, many young antisocial alcoholics also form dependencies on tobacco and marijuana.

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In severe cases, individuals may experience alcohol-induced psychosis, characterized by hallucinations and delusions. At the other end of the spectrum from functional alcoholism, we find chronic severe alcoholism – perhaps the most recognizable and severe form of alcohol addiction. This is the type that most closely aligns with the stereotypical image of an alcoholic, where the addiction has taken center stage in the individual’s life. From the high-functioning professional to the college student binge drinker, alcohol addiction takes on many guises, each with its own unique challenges and consequences. The world of alcohol addiction is far more complex than many realize, with various patterns of problematic drinking that can affect individuals from all walks of life.

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Some may be more inclined to develop alcoholism due to their genetics and family history, while others may develop alcoholism due to environmental and psychological factors. Understand it often takes many conversations like these for your family member to agree to consider treatment. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines it as a pattern of drinking that brings blood https://ecosoberhouse.com/ alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL or higher. In practical terms, this usually means consuming 5 or more drinks for men, or 4 or more drinks for women, within about 2 hours. It’s like trying to chug a gallon of milk – your body just isn’t designed to handle that much, that fast. Labels such as ‚alcoholic’ do nothing to help a person with the disorder get the help they need.

This section will explore the definition of alcoholism, the spectrum of alcohol use disorder, and the importance of identifying different types of alcoholics. Moreover, as typologies based on single defining characteristics (e.g., gender or family history of alcoholism) have given way to multidimensional classification schemes, researchers for the first time have conducted replication studies. This research helped scientists identify several different types of alcoholics. Understanding these categories provides more insight into alcohol addiction and the effective treatment options for people suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). These young adults usually don’t have diagnosed mental disorders, substance-related or otherwise. Most people falling within this type do not seek help in their dependence on alcohol and they usually come from families with little to no alcohol abuse problems.

• These are people that may seem to have their lives together; they may be the ones that others look up to.
• The effort was made to categorize different types of alcoholics, partly to dispel the myth that there is a typical alcoholic.
• And although some theories are likely to endure longer than others, a more fundamental question remains concerning the utility of typologies for theory development and clinical practice.
• Chances are that a certain stereotype, which seems nothing like yourself, comes to mind.
• Researchers found that they have the highest rates of employment among alcoholics, with 68% working full-time and an average family income of nearly $50,000 a year.

Young Antisocial Alcoholics

Intervals of intense nervous irritability and depression commonly precede the drinking periods. Periodic inebriety often takes the form of temporary insanity, in which the drinker’s behavior is characterized by mania, violence, or impulsive criminal behavior. Individuals belonging to the Intermediate Familial Subtype often have a family history of alcoholism, with close relatives, such as parents or siblings, who have struggled with alcohol addiction. This genetic predisposition increases their vulnerability to alcohol-related problems.