5 Types of Alcoholics

According to the study, they have five or more alcoholic beverages on 73% of the days that they drink. They tend to drink alcohol less frequently than the other subtypes. Our effective treatment programs and personalized care are designed to treat even those who have developed severe alcohol dependency.

The 5 Types of Drinkers

Other physical effects include an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, malabsorption, alcoholic liver disease, and several cancers such as breast cancer and head and neck cancer. In 2023, the World Health Organization stated that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, and even low or moderate consumption may cause harms to someone’s health, including an increased risk of many cancers. Someone with a parent or sibling with an alcohol use disorder is 3-4 times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder, but only a minority do. Other terms, some slurs and some informal, have been used to refer to people affected by alcoholism such as tippler, sot, drunk, drunkard, dipsomaniac and souse.

The main cause of Alcohol Use Disorder in this group is peer influence and the social drinking culture, particularly in college and social settings where excessive alcohol use is normalized. Many in this group are unmarried, and the absence of major family or career obligations contributes to excessive drinking habits. It is the most prevalent category of individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), accounting for a significant percentage of cases. Still, people dealing with AUD can achieve and maintain sobriety with appropriate treatment and support. Family members and friends can recognize the type of alcoholic by observing their loved one’s behaviors and their impact on relationships.

People in this group have likely experienced job loss, homelessness, estranged relationships, and serious health issues due to their drinking. Treatment for this group often needs to focus on breaking family 5 types of alcoholics according to the niaaa patterns, managing mental health, and providing long-term support. They may have grown up in alcoholic households and used alcohol as a learned coping mechanism. Their drinking patterns are often shaped by generational cycles of alcohol use and emotional trauma. These individuals often appear successful on the outside—they have stable jobs, families, and social lives—but secretly rely on alcohol to cope or unwind.

Does family history guarantee I’ll become an alcoholic?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for alcohol addiction treatment include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, which help reduce cravings and discourage alcohol consumption. According to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) titled “Alcohol Use Disorder Subtypes,” published in National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, 2007), functional alcoholics represent 19.5% of those with AUD. This group begins drinking in late adolescence and develops alcohol dependence in their mid to late thirties. Compared to other subtypes, this group has a higher occurrence of co-occurring disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. The drinking patterns in this group are severe, with frequent episodes of binge drinking and other substance use disorders, including cigarettes, cannabis, and other illicit drugs. This subtype consists mainly of men, with a strong association between alcoholism and antisocial personality traits.

• As exceptions, functional and young antisocial alcoholics are more likely to be aware of their drinking problem.
• A 2008 review of the effectiveness of topiramate concluded that the results of published trials are promising, however as of 2008, data was insufficient to support using topiramate in conjunction with brief weekly compliance counseling as a first-line agent for alcohol dependence.
• On average, this alcoholic type will consume 17 drinks at a time.

Binge Drinking

This group is characterized by binge drinking behaviors, which frequently begin during adolescence and escalate into alcoholism as they transition into adulthood. The treatment for alcohol addiction includes behavioral therapies, medication-assisted treatment, and participation in support groups. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) performed a study to categorize different alcoholics to note their similarities. There’s no one way to describe a ‘typical alcoholic’ since alcoholism develops differently from person to person. Since the causes of alcoholism vary from person to person, the best treatment for one might not work for the next. About half of this group comes from families with alcohol problems and are likely to suffer from mental disorders.

Drink Less With Reframe!

It is also inversely seen, with countries that have very low gross domestic product showing high alcohol consumption. In Asian countries that have a high gross domestic product, there is heightened drinking compared to other Asian countries, but it is nowhere near as high as it is in other countries like the United States. Studies by social psychologists Stivers and Greeley attempt to document the perceived prevalence of high alcohol consumption amongst the Irish in America. Stereotypes of drunkenness may be based on racism or xenophobia, as in the fictional depiction of the Irish as heavy drinkers.

I want to drink less.

Key signs include difficulties cutting back, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms if alcohol use is abruptly stopped. It affects the brain’s neurochemistry, potentially leading to misuse and dependence. AUD is a medical condition characterized by an inability to stop or control alcohol use despite negative consequences. Unlike many of the other types of drinkers, they’re the most likely to seek help (which makes sense, given that the red flags are hard to miss). Now she’s happily alcohol-free and enjoys checking out the Reframe app readings about the latest neuroscience research on the role that genetics and environment play in alcohol misuse.

According to a 2017 Cochrane Systematic Review, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness or safety for the use of baclofen for withdrawal symptoms in alcoholism. Individuals at risk of a severe withdrawal syndrome as well as those who have significant or acute comorbid conditions can be treated as inpatients. Propofol also might enhance treatment for individuals showing limited therapeutic response to a benzodiazepine. Medical treatment for alcohol detoxification usually involves administration of a benzodiazepine, in order to ameliorate alcohol withdrawal syndrome’s adverse impact. The World Health Organization, the European Union and other regional bodies, national governments and parliaments have formed alcohol policies in order to reduce the harm of alcoholism.

What Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?

A 2008 review of the effectiveness of topiramate concluded that the results of published trials are promising, however as of 2008, data was insufficient to support using topiramate in conjunction with brief weekly compliance counseling as a first-line agent for alcohol dependence. There was also a 1973 study showing chronic alcoholics drinking moderately again, but a 1982 follow-up showed that 95% of subjects were not able to maintain drinking in moderation over the long term. A 2002 US study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) showed that 17.7% of individuals diagnosed as alcohol dependent more than one year prior returned to low-risk drinking. A 2021 meta-analysis and systematic review of interventions designed to promote moderate (controlled) drinking found that this treatment model demonstrated a non-inferior outcome compared to an abstinence-oriented approach for many people with alcohol problems.b Since alcoholism involves multiple factors which encourage a person to continue drinking, they must all be addressed to successfully prevent a relapse.

Let’s break down the 5 most commonly recognized types of alcoholics—and explore how you can identify them and support recovery. Learn the 5 types of alcoholics—each with unique patterns, risks, and needs. Chronic severe alcoholics present the greatest treatment challenges.

Alcohol serves as a coping mechanism for their antisocial tendencies, exacerbating their behavioral issues. With the lowest levels of education, employment, and income of any subtype, this group also drinks more at one time and more overall than other groups. Reach out to The Grove Estate today and take the first step towards a brighter, addiction-free future. If you or a loved one is grappling with addiction, don’t face it alone.

• In the United States, 30% of people admitted to hospital have a problem related to alcohol.
• Knowing the types of alcoholics provides a framework not just for awareness, but for taking appropriate action.
• Severe cognitive problems are common; approximately 10% of all dementia cases are related to alcohol consumption, making it the second leading cause of dementia.
• Most intermediate familial alcoholics begin drinking around age 17 and develop alcoholism later in life, around age 32.

Compared to other subtypes, functional alcoholics exhibit lower rates of co-occurring substance use disorders and legal issues. The young antisocial subtype includes individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) who begin drinking early and develop alcohol dependence in their late teens or early adulthood. Compared to other subtypes, young adult alcoholics have lower rates of substance use disorders related to cigarettes and illicit drugs. Of the five alcoholic subtypes, intermediate familial individuals have the highest employment rates and an average family income of $50,000 yearly. Many young antisocial alcoholics also have other substance use disorders, including addiction to cigarettes, marijuana, and opiates. Electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, hyperuricemia, metabolic acidosis, and respiratory alkalosis are common in people with alcohol use disorders.

This group sits between the young adult types and chronic severe alcoholics in terms of severity. This subtype accounts for 19.5% of all alcoholics and typically consists of middle-aged professionals. An alcoholic meets clinical criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD)—a medical condition characterized by impaired control over drinking despite adverse consequences.

Manualized Twelve Step Facilitation (TSF) interventions (i.e. therapy which encourages active, long-term Alcoholics Anonymous participation) for Alcohol Use Disorder lead to higher abstinence rates, compared to other clinical interventions and to wait-list control groups. A 2020 Cochrane review concluded that Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF) probably achieves outcomes such as fewer drinks per drinking day, however evidence for such a conclusion comes from low to moderate certainty evidence “so should be regarded with caution”. Experiences following alcohol withdrawal, such as depressed mood and anxiety, can take weeks or months to abate while other symptoms persist longer due to persisting neuroadaptations. Individuals who are only at risk of mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms can be treated as outpatients.