They drink approximately 201 days out of each year and usually consume five or more drinks per sitting. Nearly 32 percent of alcoholics fall into the young adult category, making it the most prevalent subtype in the U.S. The typical young adult alcoholic is about 25 and started drinking at age 19 or 20. Men outnumber women 2.5 times to 1 in this category, and they tend to be single. 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.
They typically drink every other day, consuming five or more drinks on average, and they often surround themselves with others who drink heavily. This type of treatment allows you to receive help in an outpatient setting while still attending to your everyday responsibilities. This is a great option for people with mild to moderate addiction and those who have already gone through inpatient treatment. In many cases, you may not expect a functional alcoholic to have a problem.
Their research led to the development of five different subtypes. Each subtype is unique and offers a bit more insight into alcohol abuse. They tend to be well-educated, high-income earners with a relatively stable home life. And because they don’t look or act like the stereotypical alcoholic, they’re often in denial about their drinking problem. 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.
Researchers Identify Alcoholism Subtypes
Experts in the field of addiction say these categories are more than just labels — they can also be useful tools in treating alcoholism. If you or someone you know suffers from alcohol use disorder, seek treatment as soon as possible. Outpatient treatment is less intensive than inpatient treatment but still effective for some people with AUD. It typically includes individual and group counseling and medication-assisted therapy like naltrexone (Vivitrol).
It also can determine whether a certain type of treatment will be more effective than another. Alcoholism is a serious problem that affects millions of people around the world. There are many types of alcoholism, including functional alcoholics, young adult alcoholics, and chronic severe alcoholics.
Are There Different Types of Alcoholics?
Support groups provide social support, encouragement, and accountability which can be beneficial during recovery. People in recovery from AUD who share their experiences, coping skills, and strategies typically facilitate substance use amphetamines these groups. When heavy or binge drinking is the norm in a family, people tend to fall into drinking as normal behavior. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.
- This is the youngest onset of dependence of any of the categories.
- Outpatient treatment is less intensive than inpatient treatment but still effective for some people with AUD.
- This type of treatment allows you to receive help in an outpatient setting while still attending to your everyday responsibilities.
- And because they don’t look or act like the stereotypical alcoholic, they’re often in denial about their drinking problem.
- While most high-functioning alcoholics begin drinking at about 18, they don’t develop an addiction to alcohol until their late 30s.
- That’s exactly what happened to ABC news anchor Elizabeth Vargas, a functional alcoholic who sought treatment for an alcohol addiction in 2014 after years of trying to hide her drinking.
Nine percent of alcoholics fall into the chronic severe category. Most are middle-aged and began drinking by the time they were 16. Many have been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and other mental illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, social phobias and panic disorder. The majority smoke, and many use other drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and opioids. While approximately 15 million American adults suffer from alcohol use disorder, fewer than 1 in 10 typically seek treatment for addiction. Five types of alcoholics exist, and the type can influence whether or not people choose to seek treatment for their addiction.
Young Antisocial Alcoholics
Most are smokers, and 20 to 25 percent have also used cocaine and marijuana. Few young adult alcoholics use other drugs or have legal problems. 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. Previous efforts to identify alcoholism subtypes focused primarily on individuals who were hospitalized or otherwise receiving treatment for their alcoholism.
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. Nearly 19 percent of alcoholics in the U.S. fall into the intermediate familial category. Most are middle-aged, began drinking at about 17 and were addicted to alcohol by their early 30s.
The Five Types of Alcoholics
Thus, a substantial proportion of people with alcoholism were not represented in the samples previously used to define subtypes of this disease. 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. If you or a loved one suffers from alcohol use disorder (AUD), you must seek addiction treatment.
This is the youngest onset of dependence of any of the categories. MAT uses medications approved by the FDA to treat AUD alongside counseling and behavioral therapies. These medications can help reduce cravings, block the effects of alcohol, and treat withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia. Inpatient treatment provides 24-hour supervision and medical care. It allows you to focus on recovery in an environment free from triggers and distractions. To achieve sobriety, he says, treatment must focus on “complete abstinence and elimination of other forms of substance abuse and also mainstreaming their behaviors” so they function better in society.
You’ll also know why it requires special treatment for successful recovery. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Although there are many stereotypes about what an alcoholic looks like or how they behave, alcoholism manifests differently in everyone. It typically includes medically monitored withdrawal, which helps reduce symptoms of withdrawal. It can also help prevent seizures or other complications that may arise.
These people have an underlying antisocial personality disorder, exhibiting various harmful behaviors. Criminal activity, disregard for safety, impulsiveness, deceitfulness, and a lack of remorse are the defining traits of this group. No two alcoholics are exactly the same, but many people with alcoholism share common characteristics. To recover from AUD, seeking professional help and attending support groups is essential. Treatment options such as inpatient, outpatient, detoxification, support groups, and MAT can all help those struggling with AUD. Examples of these medications include Naltrexone (Vivitrol), Acamprosate (Campral), and Disulfiram (Antabuse).
You receive all services in a facility where you stay overnight. Treatment typically includes individual and group counseling, medication, and other therapies. The 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reveals that 28.6 million adults aged 18 and barbiturate withdrawal symptoms older (11.3 percent of this demographic) experienced alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2022. 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.
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That’s because they can balance their drinking with their personal and professional life. Moreover, many don’t believe they have a drinking problem until they start experiencing health issues. Each type has symptoms and behaviors that separate themselves from each other. This post discusses five distinct categories of people who suffer from alcoholism. By exploring each category in depth, you’ll better understand the complexities surrounding alcoholism.