They also have the highest divorce rates, with 25.1% divorced, 8.6% separated and only 28.7% married. 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. Young antisocial alcoholics have a high rate of psychiatric disorders and other substance abuse. This subtype of alcoholics is typically middle-aged, well-educated, and may seem to have it all “together” on the outside. They are likely have a steady job, a seemingly stable family life, and do not often fit into the traditional stereotype of an alcoholic.
The Young Antisocial Alcoholic
Intermediate familial alcoholics drink on an average of 172 days a year, consuming five or more drinks on 54% of those days with a maximum of 10 drinks. Researchers found that about 62% of functional alcoholics work full-time, 3.6% are in school full-time, and 5% are retired. Nearly 26% have a college degree or higher, and the average household income is almost $60,000, the highest among any of the subtypes.
- Intermediate familial alcoholics make up another fifth of all the alcoholics in America.
- Studies have shown that people with ASPD are 21 times more likely than usual to develop an alcohol dependency in their lifetimes.
- This group also drinks more at once and more overall than other groups, although they drink slightly less frequently.
- Co-occurring disorders are optimally treated with an integrated program that can help to manage both disorders at the same time.
- Around one-quarter of the functional alcoholic demographic have had at least one major depressive episode in their lives as well.
- In the U.S., the intermediate familial alcoholic subtype comprises 19% of all alcoholics.
Impact on your health
These examples demonstrate that although various typologies use different defining criteria, they often identify similar subgroups of alcoholics. 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.
Traits of Alcohol Use Disorder
For instance, when co-occurring mental health conditions are also present, an integrated treatment plan is ideal. From the high-functioning professional to the college student binge drinker, alcohol addiction takes on many guises, each with its own unique challenges and consequences. The world of alcohol addiction is far more complex than many realize, with various patterns of problematic drinking 5 types of alcoholics that can affect individuals from all walks of life. Understanding these different types of alcohol addiction is crucial for recognizing the signs, seeking appropriate help, and ultimately, paving the way for recovery. Confirmation of the hypothesis that only two broad categories of alcoholics exist would represent an important breakthrough for theory development and treatment matching.
Young Antisocial Type
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 these groups. Outpatient treatment is less intensive https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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). BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.
Sabino Recovery Provides Trauma-Focused Treatment for Alcoholism
This subtype also battles antisocial personality disorder at high rates and regularly has issues with the law and therefore criminal or legal troubles as well. The first subtype of alcoholism is the young adult subtype, also called the young alcoholic. The functional subtype is what you might think of when you hear “functional alcoholics.” Making up 19.5% of alcoholics, this is the group that is holding down jobs and relationships. Members of this group generally start drinking later (around 18) and develop an alcohol dependence later (around 37).
If your loved one needs help
- Because not every case of alcoholism is the same, tailoring addiction treatment to the individual person may help improve rates of success.
- Conformist drinkers drink to fit in socially on holidays, at celebrations, and in other situations where other people consume alcohol.
- A person with AUD can lose control over the amount of alcohol they consume and continue to drink despite any adverse health, social or occupational consequences.
- As previously mentioned, however, there are multiple types of alcoholic subtypes.
- Type 1 alcoholism and Type 2 alcoholism are but two distinct aspects of alcoholism that exist along a spectrum.
- 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.