Young adults comprise the largest portion—31.5%—of people with alcohol use disorder in the United States. And within that group, college students are most likely to engage in alcohol misuse and develop AUD. But identification also helps by letting people with alcohol use disorder AUD know that they are not alone, and that they have a serious health problem that requires a medical treatment plan. There is help and support (including support groups) available to help them successfully recover from their illness. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) studied alcoholics and how they differ. Nearly one-third of those in this group have families with a history of alcoholism.
- Most of these typologies were published by alienists in books and scholarly journals.
- The following section summarizes the findings of this replication study, which included adoptees from Gothenburg, Sweden, and their biological and adoptive parents.
- This group also sees the highest rate of emergency room visits due to drinking.
- Most young antisocial alcoholics are also male (about three-quarters of the group).
- All but the young adult subtype have a high chance of having a family history of alcohol misuse or AUD.
- It typically includes individual and group counseling and medication-assisted therapy like naltrexone (Vivitrol).
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. People who fall into the young adult alcoholic subtype also rarely have a family history of alcoholism. Alcoholism is considered to be a heritable disease, as NIAAA reports that genetics can account for about half of the risk for developing the disease. The flip side of this coin, however, is that environmental and other factors make up the other half of the risks for the onset of addiction.
Treatment for All Types of Alcoholism
Chronic severe alcoholics abuse other drugs at higher rates than the other subtypes of alcoholics as well. Poor mental health can allow substance abuse to develop if those substances help alleviate the symptoms of any current mental illnesses. Some of the types describe people dealing with fewer mental health issues outside of their alcohol abuse, whereas others suffer from depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and more. About 66 percent of chronic severe alcoholics seek treatment for their alcohol dependence. This subtype has the highest attendance rate at self-help groups, specialty rehab, detox, and inpatient programs. About 77 percent of chronic severe alcoholics have family members with alcohol dependency.
We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Submit your number and receive a free call today from a treatment provider. There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. 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.
Determining Your Alcoholic Type
Still, people dealing with AUD can achieve and maintain sobriety with appropriate treatment and support. Binge drinking equates to roughly five drinks 5 types of alcoholics for men and four for women within two hours. However, these numbers can vary depending on your alcohol tolerance and other biological responses.
- About half of functional alcoholics are married, 62 percent work full-time, and 26 percent have a college degree.
- They do not generally abuse other substances, and have low rates of family alcoholism and mental disorders.
- Compared to other types of alcoholics, young adults are less likely to have psychiatric disorders or legal problems.
The differences in personality traits between type I and type II alcoholics led to a hypothesis about the underlying motivation for alcohol consumption in the two subtypes (Cloninger 1987a). According to this theory, type I alcoholics experience a late onset of alcoholism because their high harm avoidance trait initially inhibits the initiation and frequency of drinking. After an extended period of socially encouraged drinking (e.g., drinking with coworkers at lunch), the risk of alcoholism increases, because the drinkers experience relief of their anxieties after alcohol consumption.
Young adult alcoholics
Generational alcohol abuse is extremely common in chronic severe cases along with the highest rates of mental health disorders out of any type. On top of alcohol abuse, many people in this category abuse tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, or opiates. Researchers found that more people in this type reach out for help for their alcohol dependence than any other type. Nearly two thirds of chronic severe alcoholics seek out rehabilitation for their dependence.
- The Recovery Village Atlanta provides robust treatment for those struggling with alcohol misuse.
- Third, the study had used multiple data sources and efficient statistical methods to classify the subjects’ alcohol abuse and determine relevant characteristics of the adoptees’ genetic and environmental backgrounds.
- There are, however, 5 identified subtypes of alcoholics as identified by the National Institute Of Health (NIH).
- If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, you should seek help right away.