This group tends to start drinking at the youngest age (around 15) and also develops an alcohol dependence at the earliest age (around 18). More than 50% of this group have traits of antisocial personality disorder. They also have high rates of depression, bipolar disorder, social phobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. This group also has the highest rates of other substance abuse disorders, including addiction to cigarettes, Marijuana, Meth, Cocaine, and Opioids. It is determined that roughly 31.5% of alcoholics fall into the category of young adults, which is the largest single group.
Given the different presentations of alcohol addiction, researchers have classified alcohol addiction types. Moreover, as typologies based on single defining characteristics (e.g., gender or family history of alcoholism) have given way to multidimensional classification schemes, researchers for the first time have conducted replication studies. Alcoholism is a serious substance abuse issue facing more five types of alcoholics than 15 million Americans, and treating all alcoholics the same has provided unsatisfactory results. Healthcare specialists know that alcoholism can affect people differently for a range of reasons. Studies like this one help expand the ways we can approach alcoholism to help those in need the most effectively. If no two people are alike, then no 15 million people can possibly be alike either.
Functional alcoholics
An intermediate familial alcoholic is a person who has a family history of alcoholism and may have a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction. They may also have other mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder or major depression. According to research, 31.5% of Americans who struggle with alcohol addiction fall into this category; however, most who fit this mold do not seek treatment for their drinking problem. Individuals who fall into this subtype have low rates of co-occurring mental health disorders and are unlikely to misuse other substances.
In that case, it’s best to speak with your doctor or an addiction treatment professional at a reputable detox or rehab center like Nova Recovery Center. The survey also included responses from individuals in treatment as well as those not seeking treatment. Other studies compared alcoholics with and without coexistent psychopathologies. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) establishes five different types of alcoholics.
What Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?
Many young adult alcoholics are 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. While most high-functioning alcoholics begin drinking at about 18, they don’t develop an addiction to alcohol until their late 30s. Approximately one-third have a family history of alcoholism, and about one-quarter have been diagnosed with major depression. Most are smokers, and they’re more likely than other subtypes to use other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opioids and amphetamines. More than three-quarters of young antisocial alcoholics are male, and about 15 percent are married.
Whether you have an opioid addiction, prescription drug addiction, or alcohol addiction, you can rely on Resurgence and our medically sanctioned addiction treatments. By enrolling in alcohol treatment today, you can begin your recovery journey right away. Put drugs and alcohol behind you and rebuild your health and life with support from Resurgence Behavioral Health. Treatment for the Young Adult Subtype often involves a combination of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, pharmacotherapy, and addressing any underlying mental health disorders. The best type of treatment will depend on your treatment needs and individual circumstances. There’s no single solution for alcohol addiction, and treatment is highly individualized.
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We want to guide you down the path to recovery – call today to learn more. Multiple different reasons can spur someone to drink until they’ve become dependent on alcohol. We surveyed 2,136 American adults who either wanted to stop drinking alcohol or had already tried to (successfully or not). The species has a very old and long history of using ethyl alcohol as a recreational drug. Some believe that alcoholism is a choice, while others argue that it is a medical condition.
- More generally referred to as therapy, behavioural treatments are the most common recommendation for individuals starting rehabilitation.
- There’s no single solution for alcohol addiction, and treatment is highly individualized.
- Not all alcoholics know they suffer from a substance abuse problem because denial is a regular and expected aspect of alcoholism.
- Symptoms within AWS include the development of delirium tremens (body tremors and confusion), alcoholic seizures, insomnia, and a threat to life.
- Each kind of alcohol also has particular applications in personal and industrial environments.