Understanding the Five Types of Alcoholics Get Help For Alcohol Addiction

Whether you see yourself or a loved one in these patterns, our rehab center provides personalized, evidence-based treatment for every kind of struggle. The effects of alcohol require comprehensive treatment to restore health, stability, family relationships, and hope. Some people develop alcohol tolerance, or their body’s ability to adapt to the presence of alcohol over time.

Functioning Alcoholic Subtype

The Chronic Severe Alcoholic Subtype makes up the smallest group of alcoholics, at approximately 9 percent. Whether for yourself or a loved one, support groups and therapy can lead to lasting sobriety. When it comes to treating alcoholism, there are various options available that cater to individual preferences and needs. Overcoming alcoholism is a challenging but ultimately rewarding journey. It requires commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to make positive changes in one’s life. While the path to recovery may have 5 types of alcoholics its ups and downs, it’s important to stay focused on the end goal of sobriety and overall well-being.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

5 types of alcoholics

If you are in a relationship of any kind with someone who struggles with alcoholism or addiction, you may be the co-addict (also called codependent). It’s extremely common for ACOA’s to battle codependency into adulthood. When you are trained to accommodate someone else who Substance abuse is in active addiction, you learn to over-extend yourself to keep peace. Your own wants, thoughts, needs, and desires get put on the back burner. This unhealthy pattern may continue into friendships and romantic relationships as well.

  • One serving of pale lager (like a Pilsner) typically has 4–6% ABV and around 150 calories.
  • One of the ways that alcoholism affects mental health is by disrupting sleep patterns.
  • Familiarizing yourself with the different AUD subtypes can help you spot the need for intervention, such as alcohol rehab, earlier on.
  • CBTs help you identify negative thinking, replace it with healthy ones, and react positively.
  • The progression of alcohol use can be categorized into four distinct stages.
  • Recognizing and understanding the different types of alcoholics is an essential step in addressing the complexities of alcoholism.

Chronic Severe Subtype

5 types of alcoholics

They also have high probability of suffering from antisocial personality disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. This group also suffers from high rates of cigarette, marijuana, and cocaine addiction. They are not meant as a diagnostic to determine if someone is suffering from alcoholism.

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  • This group is unlikely to seek treatment, but individuals who do seek treatment choose self-help groups, specialty treatment programs, detoxification programs, and private health care providers.
  • Alcoholism takes different forms, each involving unique struggles and solutions.
  • The goal of professional recovery programs isn’t just sobriety—it’s equipping individuals with the skills needed to maintain it for life.

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. The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) further aids in quantifying risky drinking patterns and identifying problematic behaviors. The chronic severe subtype consists of the combined characteristics of all the other different types of alcoholics. People with this type have close family members with substance use and mental health disorders.

Do Different Alcoholics Undergo Specific Treatment Types?

Some common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include sweating, shaking, nausea, irritability, and anxiety. These symptoms can be mistaken for hangovers, but withdrawal lasts much longer, sometimes up to a week or two. Intermediate familial alcoholics make up another fifth of all the alcoholics in America. They are usually middle-aged, and about half of them come from families with a history of alcoholism. Many alcoholics in this category also battle substance abuse, depression, and bipolar disorder.

5 types of alcoholics

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This consistent support system helps individuals keep their focus on recovery and prevents the cycle of alcohol dependency from resuming. Apart from categorization, alcohol addiction often follows predictable drinking patterns. These patterns expose how addiction develops over time and influences the course of recovery. This is especially common among young adults involved in binge drinking or weekend benders, where cultural acceptance makes these behaviors seem harmless. Challenging these societal norms and providing education about responsible drinking are crucial steps in preventing alcoholism from taking root.

The Young Adult Subtype represents the largest percentage of alcoholics in the United States, accounting for 31.5% of all alcoholics 3. Many individuals in this subtype are college students who may be away from home for the first time, exposed to a culture that promotes excessive social drinking. Factors such as peer pressure and a desire for social acceptance contribute to their alcohol use disorder. The Young Antisocial subtype is characterized by individuals who not only struggle with alcoholism but also exhibit antisocial behaviors.