The study focused on alcohol dependence and also included questions about personality, family history of alcoholism and other substance use. 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. According to the NIAAA “More than Abstinence violation effect Definition of Abstinence violation effect 10% of US children live with a parent with alcohol problems…” (Alcohol Facts). Generational alcoholism describes a family environment that normalizes the presence of alcohol and its abuse. Another factor is whether or not someone is also addicted to other drugs. This additional substance abuse is noted as co-occurring substance dependence, which can be caused by alcoholism or go on to cause alcoholism.

As previously mentioned, however, there are multiple types of alcoholic subtypes. The following checklists for each type can help you determine which subtype you might fall into. Of this type, about 76% are male and only 7.6% have received a college degree, https://g-markets.net/sober-living/facts-about-aging-and-alcohol-national-institute/ although another 13.4% are still in school. Family incomes average around $32,000, the lowest among the subtypes alongside the chronic severe subtype. Nineteen percent of people3 with an alcohol addiction fall under this fourth category of alcoholism.

The Young Adult Alcoholic

If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. People in this category-type typically start drinking during their late teens – age 17 and onwards but, develop a dependency on alcohol by the time they reach their 30’s. They have low rates of co-occuring mental health issues and having an alcoholic family member.

• Nevertheless, Jellinek’s work provided typology research with a new impetus that ushered in the post-Jellinek era of typology development.
• There’s no one way to describe a ‘typical alcoholic’ since alcoholism develops differently from person to person.
• Previous efforts to identify alcoholism subtypes focused primarily on individuals who were hospitalized or otherwise receiving treatment for their alcoholism.
• The unitary disease concept, as illustrated in “The Drunkard’s Progress,” by Nathaniel Currier.
• Conversely, hereditary causes include constitutional conditions, such as distinct neurotic and psychopathic disorders that often are traceable to ancestors.

When they do seek treatment, they’re more likely to attend a 12-step group or seek treatment from private health care professionals. They tend to be well-educated, high-income earners with a relatively stable home life. And because they don’t look or act like the stereotypical alcoholic, they’re often in denial about their drinking problem. Experts in the field of addiction say these categories are more than just labels — they can also be useful tools in treating alcoholism. Because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to treating an alcohol addiction, understanding a person’s alcoholic subtype can help patients and physicians identify the most effective form of treatment. Researchers found that about 65% of chronic severe alcoholics are male.

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This means that individuals in this subtype are likely to have difficulty functioning within the community. They may need help from multiple supportive services, https://trading-market.org/building-alcohol-tolerance/ such as housing and vocational training. Those who fall into lower income levels1 are also at increased risk of experiencing severe alcoholism.

• The effort was made to categorize different types of alcoholics, partly to dispel the myth that there is a typical alcoholic.
• Many alcoholics, like those addicted to other substances, either live in denial or rely on alcohol to cope with other conditions like depression or PTSD.
• Most are smokers, and they’re more likely than other subtypes to use other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opioids and amphetamines.

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. Isopropyl alcohol also is the main constituent of in cosmetics, including lotions. But, isopropyl alcohol — along with some more dangerous types of alcohol — products have bittering agents that dissuade people from drinking it.

Other NIAAA Sites

Few seek help for their drinking, but when they do, they gravitate toward 12-step groups as opposed to private treatment. Researchers found that about 62% of functional alcoholics work full-time, 3.6% are in school full-time, and 5% are retired. Nearly 26% have a college degree or higher, and the average household income is almost $60,000, the highest among any of the subtypes. If you or a loved one is displaying signs of any five types of alcoholism, treatment can help. There are several treatment options available, including inpatient care, in which patients reside at a facility while receiving treatment for alcohol addiction. Those with a less severe form of alcoholism or those who have finished inpatient rehab may attend outpatient rehab.

There is no denying the fact that approximately 88,000 people die through alcohol-related causes on an annual basis. The different types of alcoholics are not meant as a diagnostic tool to figure out if someone is suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Rather, by knowing which alcoholic personality type you or a loved are acts as a guide to finding the best treatment and prevention methods.

Alcohol use disorder

The type of alcoholic can also be determined by any additional mental health diagnoses. There are five different types of alcoholics, but the young adult subtype is the most widespread. Dependency on alcohol begins around the age of 20 years when drinking becomes more regular but, the average age for alcohol dependency is 25 years. Binge drinking is the norm with 5 or more drinks being consumed in a single session increasing to 14 as a maximum. Some people don’t even realize their drinking is an issue — they see it as part of who they are.