However, treatment rates remain relatively low, with only 7.6% of affected individuals receiving treatment 2. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), encompasses a wide spectrum of alcohol use. This section aims to provide an overview of the spectrum of alcohol use and the characteristics of alcohol use disorder. Identifying alcoholism as a disease also helps patients and their loved ones realize that they can be treated, and encourages them to seek medical help.
Addiction As A Brain Disease
This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, making it even more difficult to break free from the cycle of addiction. Individuals in this category are not fully developed, meaning that the brain can undergo significant developmental damage as a result of high alcohol consumption. This can lead to an ongoing addiction, severely impacting the individual’s quality of life as they get older and seriously impacting their physical and mental development. 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. The specific subtype 5 types of alcoholics of alcoholic you are doesn’t matter as much as simply getting help does. Regardless of the type of alcoholic you are, the key is to get treatment before the disorder worsens and the damage becomes more severe.
The Spectrum of Alcohol Use Disorder
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. 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.
The 5 Types of Alcoholics
Meanwhile, alcohol ismore likely to increase aggressive behaviors in people with ASPDthan 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. Young antisocial alcoholics have a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ high rate of psychiatric disorders and other substance abuse.
- Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease affecting millions of people worldwide.
- Around one-quarter of the functional alcoholic demographic have had at least one major depressive episode in their lives as well.
- It’s important for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction to seek help not just for their physical health but also for their mental well-being.
- The functional subtype of alcoholism refers to individuals who are typically middle-aged and well-educated, with stable jobs and family lives despite their abuse of alcohol.
It’s important to note that alcoholism is not simply a matter of drinking excessively or frequently. It involves a loss of control over one’s drinking behavior, leading to significant impairment in various aspects of life. The process typically involves a referral from a healthcare provider, followed by a pre-admission evaluation and verification of insurance coverage before admission. If you suspect that someone is a chronic severe alcoholic, it is important to encourage them to seek professional help immediately. Chronic severe alcoholism can lead to serious health problems and even death without proper treatment. It’s important to note that young antisocial alcoholics may have a history of criminal behavior, and may struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation.
- They typically drink every other day, consuming five or more drinks on average, and they often surround themselves with others who drink heavily.
- As the brains of these young adults are in the process of developing, they retain a higher chance of developing an AUD through prolonged alcohol consumption.
- Scientists are exploring how epigenetic changes can impact the likelihood of developing Alcohol Use Disorder.
Getting Help for Alcoholism
- While there is no known cure for alcoholism, it is treatable with professional help and ongoing support.
- In this blog article, we cover the different types of alcoholics and how they can seek help to stay sober.
- Environmental factors, such as growing up in a household with alcohol abuse, can also contribute to their alcohol-related behaviors.
- By exploring the characteristics, behaviors, and impact of each subtype, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of alcoholism and the importance of tailored treatment approaches.
Co-occurring depression is present in around one-quarter of those who fall under the functional subtype, and around half smoke. This is a different presentation from the simple “young adult subtype” of alcohol addiction. In contrast, those in the young antisocial subtype are most often in their mid-twenties, over half of whom have a family history of alcohol addiction. These people begin drinking early in life and have an early onset of alcohol problems. You may think all cases of alcohol addiction look the same, but this isn’t always the case. Alcohol addiction can range in severity, with some people who struggle with addiction continuing to function well at work and in family life.