Breaking Down The 5 Different Types of Alcoholics

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. This group has the lowest levels of education, employment, and what are whippets income of any group.

The young adult alcoholic may not seek help for their problematic drinking, as drinking to excess at this age is often considered “normal” and part of a phase of life. Family members and adults may assume that the young adult will then “grow out of it” and do not see the drinking as a potential ongoing or long-lasting issue. While two-thirds have sought alcohol rehab for their addiction, it’s important that any treatment program address their co-occurring disorders and include therapies focused on preventing alcohol relapse. 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 addiction recovery group activities in people without.

They drink approximately 201 days out of each year and usually consume five or more drinks per sitting. Researchers found that about 65% of chronic severe alcoholics are male. They also have the highest divorce rates, with 25.1% divorced, 8.6% separated and only 28.7% married.

Because their alcohol addiction has fewer obvious negative consequences, an important aspect of dealing with an alcoholic is getting them to recognize that they have a problem. In addition, Moss said it is crucial for functional alcoholics to focus on abstinence or return to less dangerous drinking levels. 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. Young antisocial alcoholics have a high rate of psychiatric disorders and other substance abuse.

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While over 6% of the American adult population suffers from AUD, only about 10% of those who need help for alcohol abuse and addiction actually seek out professional treatment, according to the NIAAA . 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. 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. According to NIAAA, around 20 percent of college students struggle with alcohol addiction. The young adult subtype is less likely to have a full-time job but is more likely to be in college than other groups.

Young Antisocial Alcoholics

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. 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. Members of this group are 2.5 times more likely to be male than female.
3. Many also suffer from other mental illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, social phobias and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
4. In the U.S., chronic severe alcoholics comprise 9% of all alcoholics.
5. As many as three-fourths of this subset also smoke marijuana and/or cigarettes, and many also struggle with opioid or cocaine addictions as well.

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Most young antisocial alcoholics are also male (about three-quarters of the group). In the signs you were roofied 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.

Only 9% have a college degree, and they also have the lowest employment rate. Only 43% of chronic severe alcoholics are employed full-time and 7.6% are unemployed or permanently disabled. While functional alcoholics may not binge drink, they do drink more alcohol than the average person. Most functional alcoholics are middle-aged (around 41) who started drinking around age 18. The terms “alcoholism” and “alcoholic” carry a heavy stigma that can discourage individuals from seeking help.