Additionally, these individuals are often far more likely to have a co-occurring mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Young antisocial alcoholics also engage in binge drinking, heavy drinking, or excessive drinking regularly. Treatment for alcohol use disorder generally consists of medication, therapy, and support. AUD can involve binge or heavy drinking, but some people with this condition do not engage in these drinking behaviors. For some people, simply drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol can result in an alcohol use disorder. That means a man with AUD averages more than two drinks a day or fourteen per week and a woman with the condition averages more than one drink a day or seven per week.

Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms

The functional subtype, which makes up about 19.5% of alcoholics, is just that. Despite these alarming statistics, this group is more likely to seek help than almost any other. Over a third of the people in this subtype have sought some form of help or treatment to overcome their alcohol dependence, whether a private health care provider, treatment program, detox or self-help group. While most people tend to lump alcoholics into one group, characteristics of alcoholics differ. There are five major subtypes of alcoholics as identified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), each with different characteristics. By understanding each type of alcoholic, you can learn how this disease affects you personally so you can seek the treatment you need.

Does drinking every day mean you have an alcohol use disorder?

They may have started drinking early and developed a dependence by their 20s. They also tend to smoke cigarettes and use other drugs in addition to alcohol abuse. Almost everyone in the chronic severe subtype has experienced acute withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cut down. Drinking disrupts their lives and cuts down on the amount of time they spend doing other activities. They also experience the highest rate of emergency medical attention because of their drinking.

Intermediate Familial Alcoholic

By better understanding the different types of alcoholics, treatment methods can be personalized to the individual, making them more desirable and effective for a healthy recovery. According to the NIAAA “More than 10% of US children live with a parent with alcohol problems…” (Alcohol Facts). Generational alcoholism describes a family environment that normalizes the presence of alcohol and its abuse. Another factor is whether or not someone is also addicted to other drugs. This additional substance abuse is noted as co-occurring substance dependence, which can be caused by alcoholism or go on to cause alcoholism. The type of alcoholic can also be determined by any additional mental health diagnoses.

What is the average lifespan of someone with AUD?

And because they don’t look or act like the stereotypical alcoholic, they’re often in denial about their drinking problem. Functional alcoholics have an average household income of almost $60,000 and the lowest rates of legal issues. In addition, 17% seek 5 types of alcoholics substance addiction treatment at private facilities. Unlike young adult alcoholics, antisocial alcoholics don’t drink socially with peers. Instead, antisocial alcoholics drink alone and typically struggle with co-occurring mental health problems.

What Are the Types of Treatment for AUD?

They may also teach life skills to help maintain sobriety in difficult situations and provide support that decreases the chance of a relapse. Alcoholism is treatable, and Design for Recovery is here to support you. We’re a leading sober living home in Los Angeles offering a safe and supportive environment and different programs people struggling with substance use disorder. We also offer aftercare and ongoing support to ensure you have the tools you need for long-term success.

As a group, they have a relatively low rate of dual diagnoses, fewer instances of familial alcoholism, and only rarely seek specialized treatment for their illness. In the large majority of cases, functional alcoholics seem to have a ‘normal’ life, though, behind the scenes, this can be a very different story. However, these individuals are likely to have already been drinking for a long period, perhaps since they were very young, and this alone can cause serious health issues later in life. Similar to the previous type of alcoholic, individuals in this category are often of similar age, around their young to mid-twenties.

• It is thought that most individuals in this category regularly engage in binge drinking – consuming a high volume of alcohol over a short period, well above the recommended daily amount.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive drinking can shave an average of 29 years off a person’s life in the United States.
• Doctors and other healthcare professionals prescribe these medications to discourage patients from drinking.
• The 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reveals that 28.6 million adults aged 18 and older (11.3 percent of this demographic) experienced alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2022.
• Meanwhile, alcohol is more likely to increase aggressive behaviors in people with ASPD than in people without.

• People with ASPD also show impaired executive functioning, which may make them particularly vulnerable to this effect.
• This group drinks more frequently than any other, although their total alcohol intake is less than the young antisocial subtype.
• If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today.
• Intermediate familial alcoholics may also have other mental health problems such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder.
• In the U.S., the young adult alcoholic subtype comprises 31.5% of all alcoholics.

Getting Help for Alcoholism