5 Types of Alcoholics: Recognize and Understand Them

For example, individuals with a family history of alcoholism may choose to avoid drinking altogether or limit their consumption to reduce their risk of developing an addiction. Thankfully, there are many resources available for young adult alcoholics who are ready to seek help. From support groups and counseling services to inpatient treatment programs, there are many different options to choose from. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. In many countries, alcoholism emerged as a major public health problem during the 19th century, just when medicine and psychiatry were developing as modern professional guilds.

Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information. 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.

Intermediate familial alcoholics

People in the intermediate familial subtype often have co-occurring mental health problems, such as clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Understanding the differences between types of alcoholics allows loved ones to better grasp the reasons behind the drinking. Some may benefit more from therapy, others from 12-step programs or rehab.

A commonly studied ERP component is called P300, because it occurs about 300 milliseconds after the uncommon stimulus. The P300 amplitude also was reduced in people at risk for type II alcoholism, such as sons of type II alcoholics who were not alcohol dependent themselves (Begleiter et al. 1987). Other researchers detected differences between type I and type II alcoholics not only in the age at onset and the type of alcohol-related problems, but also in certain neurobiological markers.

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Drug slang refers to the language used by drug users to describe various drugs, drug use, and drug-related activities. Those with Type 2 alcoholism display low harm avoidance, meaning they’re uninhibited, optimistic, relaxed, and confident with their alcohol use. If you or someone you love falls into othese categories, do not hesitate. Examples of support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery, and Celebrate Recovery. Regular meetings can help you stay strong in your recovery and stick to important goals. It allows you to focus on recovery in an environment free from triggers and distractions.

• About 75% have never been married, 36.5% are still in school, and 54% work full time.
• These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include tremors, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures.
• Fortified wines, on the other hand, have a higher alcohol content due to the addition of distilled spirits, which makes them a type of fortified wine.
• This combination of traits also describes people with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) (Cloninger 1987b) and is consistent with findings that type II alcoholics frequently suffer from ASPD (Gilligan et al. 1988).

Moreover, by studying the evolution of alcoholism typologies, current researchers can place Jellinek’s ideas and subsequent thinking into a broader perspective. People with ASPD are 21 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence in their lifetimes. Meanwhile, alcohol is more likely to increase aggressive behaviors in people with ASPD than in people without. This may be because alcohol interferes with executive functioning in the brain, which regulates and inhibits aggressive behavior. People with ASPD also show impaired executive functioning, which may make them particularly vulnerable to this effect.

Why Is Alcoholism Typology Important?

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. In initial studies, type I alcoholics frequently exhibited high harm avoidance, 5 types of alcoholics low novelty seeking, and high reward dependence (Cloninger 1987a), personality characteristics indicating high levels of anxiety. Type II alcoholics often exhibited a reverse personality profile, with low harm avoidance, high novelty seeking, and low reward dependence.

As many as three-fourths of this subset also smoke marijuana and/or cigarettes, and many also struggle with opioid or cocaine addictions as well. Polydrug abuse, and co-occurring disorders combined with alcohol abuse, increases the risk for addiction and can interfere with treatment measures. Around one-third of young antisocial alcoholics will seek treatment for problematic drinking. More than half of young antisocial alcoholics have a family history of alcoholism, and around half also struggle with antisocial personality disorder. When a person suffers from a co-occurring mental health disorder, the risk for also developing alcoholism or problems with substance abuse are elevated. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes that co-occurring mental health disorders and addiction are common, as about 8 million adults in America battled both in 2014.

The 5 Types Of Alcoholics

This group also sees the highest rate of emergency room visits due to drinking. 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. 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.

They are also young (average age 26 years) and have the earliest age of onset of drinking (average is under 16 years old) and the earliest age of alcohol dependence (average of 18 years). Young antisocial alcoholics drank an average of 201 days in the last year, binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks) on an average of 80% of their drinking days. When they drink, their maximum number of drinks is 17, the highest of any subtype of alcoholic. Young adult alcohol dependents are 2.5 times more likely to be male than female.