Alcoholism Stages and Subtypes: What You Need To Know

Moss and colleagues studied data from 1,484 U.S. adults who took part in a national survey conducted by the NIAAA from 2001 to 2002. In 2008, alcohol was related in some way to 31 percent of traffic accidents. Whether looking for information on programs, admissions, or financial aid, we’re here to help.

Alcohol impacts brain chemistry, and regular exposure to the mind-altering substance may actually change the way the brain’s circuitry works. An individual may then suffer from cravings and withdrawal symptoms when alcohol isn’t active in the bloodstream, encouraging the person to drink more to feel better. The young adult alcoholic may not seek help for their problematic drinking, as drinking to excess at this age is often considered “normal” and part of a phase of life. Family members and adults may types of alcoholics assume that the young adult will then “grow out of it” and do not see the drinking as a potential ongoing or long-lasting issue. More than 80% of this group experiences acute alcohol withdrawal and persistent efforts to cut down, and more than 90% experience drinking despite the problems it causes them and drinking larger amounts and for longer than intended. This group also tends to spend significant amounts of time recovering from alcohol, and many experience reduced activities due to drinking.

Functional Alcoholic

It is determined that roughly 31.5% of alcoholics fall into the category of young adults, which is the largest single group. This group tends to begin drinking at an early age and also develops an alcohol dependence early . This group has comparatively low rates of co-occurring mental health conditions and moderate rates of other substance abuse disorders and family members with alcoholism. This subtype makes up 9% of alcoholics and starts drinking very young but develops alcohol dependence substantially later . Members of this group are very likely to have alcoholics in their families, substance abuse disorders and antisocial personality disorder. The Apollonian-Dionysian distinction has been used to summarize the commonalities among alcoholic subtypes.

Depression and mood disorders commonly co-occur with alcohol abuse and can increase a person’s vulnerability to addiction. The functional alcoholic may be good at covering up emotional distress and issues with alcohol, and able to maintain outward appearances of success. This subtype is what’s commonly known as “functional alcoholics.” Accounting for 19.5% of alcoholics, this group is typically middle-aged people who start drinking early but develop alcohol dependence later . Thankfully, almost 35% of Young Antisocial Alcoholics actually seek help for controlling their drinking. As this review has outlined, throughout the past 150 years, researchers and clinicians have developed numerous typological classifications of alcoholism.

Does the treatment of alcoholics differ for different types of alcoholics?

This subtype of alcoholics is typically middle-aged, well-educated, and may seem to have it all “together” on the outside. They are likely have a steady job, a seemingly stable family life, and do not often fit into the traditional stereotype of an alcoholic. Over 6 percent of American adults battled an alcohol use disorder in 2015, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism publishes.

• Young brains do not have a fully developed prefrontal cortex, meaning that young people may have more difficulties controlling emotions and impulses, and are therefore more likely to take bigger risks without fear of consequences.
• The young adult subtype is one category of alcoholics that includes young adults who are in their mid-twenties.
• However, a high-functioning alcoholic may not exhibit any of these common symptoms.
• A social drinker consumes alcohol in various settings, such as homes, restaurants and celebrations, to bond, relax and socialize with others.

Only 43% of chronic severe alcoholics are employed full-time and 7.6% are unemployed or permanently disabled. The young adult subtype is the most prevalent subtype, making up31.5% of people who are alcohol dependent. Theaverage age of dependent young adultsis almost 25 years old, and they first became dependent at an average age of around 20 years old. However, most of their drinking is binge drinking –they drink 5 or more drinks on 73% of their drinking days.