Are There Different Types of Alcoholics?

The BASICS program provides personal feedback, motivation, and strategies that enhance normative drinking patterns (67). It is typically given as a low-intensity intervention, every 2 weeks, over about 8 weeks. The BASICS program is the most well-validated motivation-based brief intervention that has been employed in treating emerging adults with alcohol-related disorders. Dealing with alcohol addiction can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. Alcohol addiction can affect individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It can be especially challenging for individuals struggling with mental health disorders.

• You might see this type of alcoholism in industries where heavy drinking is normalized like entertainment or politics.
• Treatment might include medication, spiritual practice, and continuing support programs.
• According to NIAAA, around 20 percent of college students struggle with alcohol addiction.
• Understanding these categories provides more insight into alcohol addiction and the effective treatment options for people suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Furthermore, compared to other groups, people who fall into this subtype have a lower probability of suffering from co-occurring mental health conditions, and they also rarely seek out treatment for alcoholism. A young adult alcoholic often starts drinking at the age of 19 and develops alcohol dependence at around 24 years old. Members included in this group are also 2.5 times more likely to be male than female.

New Study Links Contraceptive Pills And Depression

Young antisocial alcoholics often begin drinking at age 15 and tend to become alcoholics at around age 18. Alcohol is often implicated in exacerbating aggression, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) publishes that 40 percent of all violent crimes cite alcohol as a contributing factor. Chronic severe alcoholics suffer from psychiatric https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-alcoholic-types-in-alcoholism/ disorders more often than other subtypes of alcoholics, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. Notably, while consideration would be given to adding an antidepressant such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to the medication regimen, it would not be appropriate to do so at present with this patient, for three reasons.

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. Yet, members of this group—35%—are more likely to seek help, and from multiple sources, including private healthcare providers, self-help groups, specialty treatment programs, and detox programs. People in the intermediate familial subtype often have co-occurring mental health problems, such as clinical depression or bipolar disorder.

Functional Subtype

This disorder can look very different between different individuals, so it’s important to seek outside help if you worry that you or a loved one is exhibiting some of these warning signs. One way to understand the difference between excessive drinkers and alcoholics is what happens when they stop drinking. For people who drink excessively, stopping drinking will likely improve their lives. Without the consequences of alcohol, they feel healthier, have more energy, get better sleep, and more. For women, it is considered binge drinking to drink four or more drinks within a two-hour period. For men under the age of 65, heavy drinking is considered having two drinks a day or having more than fourteen drinks within one week.

The Young Adult Alcoholic Subtype, however, has a relatively low rate of mental health disorders along with alcoholism, a condition called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a pleasant way to relax. People with alcohol use disorders, however, drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains alcohol problems and how psychologists can help people recover. Only 8.7 percent of young adult alcohol dependents have ever sought treatment for their drinking problem.

Am I an Alcoholic? An Alcoholic Quiz Can Help You Find Out

A BAC from 0.25% to 0.40% causes stupor, unconsciousness, anterograde amnesia, vomiting (death may occur due to inhalation of vomit while unconscious) and respiratory depression (potentially life-threatening). A BAC from 0.35% to 0.80% causes a coma (unconsciousness), life-threatening respiratory depression and possibly fatal alcohol poisoning. With all alcoholic beverages, drinking while driving, operating an aircraft or heavy machinery increases the risk of an accident; many countries have penalties for drunk driving. Young antisocial alcoholics have a high rate of psychiatric disorders and other substance abuse.