Types of Alcoholics: Young Adult, Young Antisocial, Functional , Intermediate Familial and Chronic Severe

The number of times an individual answers “yes” to one of those questions helps to determine the severity level — mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). An alcoholic is someone who has developed an alcohol dependence and is experiencing physical and psychological cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut down or quit. Regardless of where or how you seek treatment, it’s important to look for approaches that are “evidence-based.” This means the treatments are backed by large, well-designed studies. The use of the terms “alcoholism” and “alcohol abuse” frequently overlaps in the alcoholism literature; therefore, the terms are used in this article as they were used in the original studies cited. 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help people reduce their drinking, stop drinking, or maintain abstinence by providing peer support.

Functional Subtype

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. 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. 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. Genetic, environmental, and psychological factors influence the risk of becoming an alcoholic.

It’s likely that they continue to meet the demands of their environment and separate their drinking into a second area of their life. They are no less dependent on and addicted to their alcohol, they just hide it well. They rarely seek treatment for the problem they don’t think exists and even those who do typically expect no more than a 12-step program to help.

Alcoholism treatment is not one-size-fits-all, and patients who work with qualified medical professionals have the best chance of recovery. Even if your loved one is not ready to get help for AUD, you can still support them by suggesting alcohol-free activities when you spend time together. And be sure to offer a listening ear and encouragement when they are ready to talk. Over time, you may need to drink more alcohol to achieve the same relaxing or euphoric effect. It typically includes medically monitored withdrawal, which helps reduce symptoms of withdrawal. It can also help prevent seizures or other complications that may arise.

Alcoholism Stages and Subtypes: What You Need To Know

However, the time it takes for the condition to develop is highly individual.
With ⅔ of this group having sought out treatment for their alcoholism they are the most likely of all the subtypes to seek help.
This subtype is the second largest form of alcoholic making up 21.1% of the total.

They are usually middle-aged, and about half of them come from families with a history of alcoholism. Many alcoholics in this category also battle substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder. People who regularly drink heavily may experience severe or dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they quit cold turkey. A better approach can be to set goals to taper or gradually lower one’s alcohol intake. This strategy may be most appropriate for anyone currently drinking heavily when they seek treatment, such as the chronic severe subtype. This subtype comprises around one-fifth of all alcoholics in the United States – 21%.

Avast number of alcoholism1 typologies have been developed during the past one-and-a-half centuries. Equally diverse are the factors used to distinguish between different alcoholism subtypes within these various typologies. These factors include personality characteristics, coexisting psychiatric disorders, gender, and alcohol consumption patterns (for review, see the article by Babor, pp. 6–14.). One frequently cited typology resulted from a study of alcoholism and other relevant characteristics in a large number of Swedish adoptees and their biological and adoptive parents. The two What is End-Stage Alcoholism subtypes identified in this typology are called type I (milieu-limited) and type II (male-limited) alcoholism.

In Southern California, the best resource for individuals and families in crisis is Chapman House Treatment Centers. Located in Orange County, Chapman House has provided premium alcohol, drug, and behavioral health care treatment since 1978. And when a person fully understands that their drinking problem is an illness – and not a moral weakness – classification shows them that their disease did not come out of nowhere. Genetics, environment, personal habits, and mental health history all contributed to their choice the fact that they have continued to drink despite negative consequences. Making up just 9% of alcoholics in this country, the Chronic Severe subtype highlights the profound negative impact of both genetics and early initiation of use.

Genes and proteins linked to different types of alcohol use disorders could provide new therapeutic targets

Most are smokers, and 20 to 25 percent have also used cocaine and marijuana. On average, they drink about 143 days each year, and they typically consume five or more drinks at a time. Few seek help for their drinking, but when they do, they gravitate toward 12-step groups as opposed to private treatment. Almost one-third of alcoholics in the United States are young adult alcoholics. Many of these teens and early twenty-somethings are college students in environments that promote excessive social and binge drinking. Since heavy drinking among young people is often seen as a phase, most young adult alcoholics suffer without seeking help.

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. While binge drinking doesn’t necessarily equate to alcoholism, it can be a precursor or warning sign. The consumption of large quantities of alcohol within a short period is a concerning pattern. Repeated binge drinking episodes may lead to the development of alcoholism or AUD over time. Risk for development of severe type I or type II alcoholism among adoptees from Gothenburg, Sweden, with the appropriate genetic or environmental predisposition. Copers drink to avoid life’s worries and feelings of depression and anxiety.

Care is offered at different levels of intensity in a variety of settings. Many outpatient options allow people to maintain their regular routines and their privacy, too, if desired. Conformist drinkers drink to fit in socially on holidays, at celebrations, and in other situations where other people consume alcohol. They are not regular drinkers, but they may join in a champagne toast or have a glass of beer when others are doing the same. Alcohol use disorder is considered a brain disorder, affecting the functioning and structure of the brain, and symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe. Disulfiram is an older drug that works by causing an adverse reaction to alcohol whenever you drink it.