Over 6 percent of American adults battled an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2015, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) publishes. Less than 10 percent of adults in the United States who struggled with alcoholism in 2015 received professional treatment for the disease, NIAAA further reports. They also have the highest divorce rates, with 25.1% divorced, 8.6% separated and only 28.7% married.
- Not all individuals struggling with alcoholism experience the same patterns of behavior or respond to treatment in the same way.
- Often, functional alcoholics have a family history going back several generations of alcohol abuse.
- These factors can include genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and psychological factors.
- People with ASPD also show impaired executive functioning, which may make them particularly vulnerable to this effect.
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. When going through an alcohol withdrawal, it is essential that individuals do not go through this process alone and that medical and professional support is accessible if needed. If you have it, you should know that you are not alone and you are living with a chronic medical condition that needs proper management and treatment.
The Typology of Alcoholism
The effort was made to categorize different types of alcoholics, partly to dispel the myth that there is a typical alcoholic. A functional alcoholic may not hit “rock bottom,” and they are often successful in relationships, employment, and life in general. Therefore, Psychology Today reports that they often deny they have a problem with alcohol and are less likely to seek professional help. The classification system described in this study will have broad application in both clinical and research settings.” A report of the study is now available online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Researchers found that they have the highest rates of employment among alcoholics, with 68% working full-time and an average family income of nearly $50,000 a year. Only 8.7% of young adult alcohol dependents have ever sought treatment for their drinking problem.
- To learn more about alcoholism, addiction, and rehabilitation, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Rehab 4 Alcoholism today.
- Many functional alcoholics believe that because they can maintain daily responsibilities, they don’t have a problem.
- The best way to find a successful treatment program is to understand alcohol issues in-depth.
- The terms “alcoholism” and “alcoholic” carry a heavy stigma that can discourage individuals from seeking help.
- Chronic alcoholics should first be given diminishing doses of alcohol to reduce the risk of delirium tremens before being treated with drugs and “suggestion.” The drug of choice was atropine, given in conjunction with strychnine.
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. Most intermediate familial alcoholics begin drinking around age 17 and develop alcoholism later in life, around age 32. About half of this group comes from families with alcohol problems and are likely to suffer from mental disorders. They also have high rates of cigarette, marijuana, and cocaine addiction.
The Link Between Substance Abuse & Postpartum Depression
Most functional alcoholics are middle-aged (around 41) who started drinking around age 18. 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. In the U.S., the young antisocial subtype comprises 21% of all alcoholics. The young antisocial alcoholic subtype starts drinking at 15 and develops an AUD around 18.
Individuals who classify as functional alcoholics often struggle with mental health, and many individuals in this category commonly report depression and other mood disorders as a result of their behaviour. Yes, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be an effective treatment for young five types of alcoholics antisocial alcoholics who struggle with underlying psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and antisocial behavior. This type of therapy can help individuals learn new coping mechanisms and develop healthy habits to replace harmful behaviors like heavy drinking.