5 Different Types of Alcoholics Types of Drinkers

Almost66%of chronic severe alcoholics have sought help for their alcoholism. They have the highest rates of attendance at self-help groups, detoxification programs and specialized rehabilitation programs, and the highest rates of treatment in inpatient programs. When seeking treatment, they tend to turn to social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and private physicians. Almost27%of intermediate familial alcohol dependents have sought help for their drinking problem. They tend to prefer self-help groups, detoxification programs, specialty treatment programs and individual private health care providers. Researchers foundthat about 62% of functional alcoholics work full-time, 3.6% are in school full-time, and 5% are retired.

Jellinek’s Typology

In questioning the value of “compulsory restraint in a retreat for long periods,” Wingfield (1919, p. 42) proposed specific treatments for different types of alcoholics. For pseudodipsomaniacs and true dipsomaniacs, he recommended administering small doses of apomorphine to provide temporary relief of craving and morphia to treat intense depression. 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. Suggestion, especially under light hypnosis, was designed to “lessen the risk of relapse long after treatment is ended” (p. 68). According to Wingfield, suggestion reduces “haunting ideas of drink,” increases the patient’s will power, and sometimes brings to light repressed memories, “effecting a real cure thereby” (pp. 69–70). The young adult subtype consists of individuals between the ages of 18 and 24, with most developing alcohol dependence in their late teens or early twenties.

• They’re also likely to have bipolar disorder, depression or social phobia.
• The severity of AUD is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of criteria that are met.
• Their representatives will discuss whether their facility may be an option for you.
• The following section summarizes the findings of this replication study, which included adoptees from Gothenburg, Sweden, and their biological and adoptive parents.

Paying for Treatment

The functional alcoholic subtype accounts for about 19% of alcoholics and includes individuals in their early ‘40s. They start drinking around 18 years old but develop alcohol dependence later in life around the age of 37. This type of alcoholic can balance their personal and professional responsibilities while living with addiction.

NIAAA researchers found that there were five distinct patterns of alcohol dependence.

Periodic inebriety often takes the form of temporary insanity, in which the drinker’s behavior is characterized by mania, violence, or impulsive criminal behavior. The prevalence of AUD emphasizes the importance of recognizing its signs and seeking appropriate treatment. Effective interventions include behavioral therapies, medication, and support groups, all aimed at helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. This group is characterized by binge drinking behaviors, which frequently begin during adolescence and escalate into alcoholism as they transition into adulthood. Social drinking is the most common type of alcohol consumption and a Halfway house significant part of American culture. A social drinker consumes alcohol in various settings, such as homes, restaurants and celebrations, to bond, relax and socialize with others.

Characteristics of Intermediate Familial Subtype

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. Close to 80 percent of chronic severe alcoholics have a genetic and familial link to alcoholism, meaning that a close family member also suffered, or suffers, from alcoholism.

What are the Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder?

It allows you to focus on recovery in an environment free from triggers and distractions. Alcohol use disorder is considered a brain disorder, affecting the functioning and structure of the brain, and symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe. If you find that the above descriptions resemble you or a loved one, you’re not alone. At The Recovery Village, we offer evidence-based treatment methods that can address every aspect of each client’s treatment needs. Multiple different reasons can spur someone to drink until they’ve become dependent on alcohol. Wesurveyed 2,136 American adultswho either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not).

Data from Studies and Health Organizations

This group is typically in their late teens or early 20s, and either just of legal drinking age or slightly younger. Many young adult alcoholics are https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/tips-to-get-started-on-the-road-to-recovery/ likely college students who are away from home for the first time, and who are surrounded by a culture that promotes and encourages excessive social drinking. All types of alcoholics require treatment to overcome the multiple components of addiction. Fortunately, many treatment options are available to help them start living a healthier, sober lifestyle.

• These drinkers are about 24 years old, and their alcohol dependence started relatively early, around the age of 19.
• A person probably didn’t notice the way alcohol was taking over life, but with time the body’s tolerance for alcohol increased, and one needed to drink more and more to achieve the same effects.
• About 27 percent of intermediate familial alcoholics have ever sought help for their drinking.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults for 5 types of alcoholics unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings. By utilizing validated screening tools, healthcare providers can identify individuals who may be at risk for or already experiencing problematic alcohol use. The diagnosis of AUD is typically established using the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 provides a comprehensive framework that helps healthcare professionals assess the severity of alcohol use and identify the presence of AUD. Nevertheless, Jellinek’s work provided typology research with a new impetus that ushered in the post-Jellinek era of typology development. As this brief review demonstrates, the early typologies were unsystematic, based primarily on clinical observation and anecdotal evidence, and lacked an empirical foundation, thus leading to a confusing array of concepts and nomenclature.