About half of this group comes from families with alcohol problems and are likely to suffer from mental disorders. They also have high rates of cigarette, marijuana, and cocaine addiction. 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. This is the rarest and most dangerous type of alcoholism, making up 9.2% of alcoholics. They begin drinking around age 16 and develop alcohol dependence later, around 29 years of age.
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Each type has symptoms and behaviors that separate themselves from each other. 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 5 types of alcoholics differently in everyone. 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.
- However, while they are “functional” in a sense, they are still suffering from addiction.
- Clear spirits made with a neutral grain base, such as vodka or gin, will be the least impacted by the subzero temps.
- With the lowest employment rate and the highest divorce and separation rates, this group has the time to drink more than any other.
- Alcohol use disorder is often linked to other mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.
- «The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders» provides diagnostic criteria for identifying alcohol use disorder.
Rehabilitation Programs
The different types of alcoholics are not meant as a diagnostic tool to figure out if someone is suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Rather, by knowing which alcoholic personality type you or a loved are acts as a guide to finding the best treatment and prevention methods. You may have heard the term functional alcoholics, someone who can hold down a stable job and keep relationships with their family while exhibiting signs of alcoholism. The functional subtype, which makes up about 19.5% of alcoholics, is just that.
Alcohol Use Disorder by Demographics
This is a great option for people with mild to moderate addiction and those who have already gone through inpatient treatment. 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 typically includes medically monitored withdrawal, which helps reduce symptoms of withdrawal.
The 5 Types of Alcoholics
This subtype is the most likely of any to experience major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and panic disorder. This group also is very likely to experience addiction to cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and opioids. This group tends to start drinking at the youngest age (around 15) and also develops an alcohol dependence at the earliest age (around 18). More than 50% of this group have traits of antisocial personality disorder.
Treating Alcohol Use Disorders
