Researchers Identify Alcoholism Subtypes National Institutes of Health NIH

While two-thirds have sought alcohol rehab for their addiction, it’s important that any treatment program address their co-occurring disorders and include therapies focused on preventing alcohol relapse. No two alcoholics are exactly the same, but many people with alcoholism share common characteristics. Only8.7%of young adult alcohol dependents have ever sought treatment for their drinking problem. If they do choose to seek help,they tend to prefer 12-step programsover specialty treatment clinics or private professional practices. There’s no one way to describe a ‘typical alcoholic’ since alcoholism develops differently from person to person. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) performed a study to categorize different alcoholics to note their similarities.

Men outnumber women 2.5 times to 1 in this category, and they tend to be single. They also have the highest divorce rates, with 25.1% divorced, 8.6% separated and only 28.7% married. Only 9% have a college degree, and they also have the lowest employment rate. Only 43% of chronic severe alcoholics are employed full-time and 7.6% are unemployed or permanently disabled.

For example, the brain system for novelty seeking is predominantly influenced by the neurotransmitter dopamine (Cloninger 1987a). Accordingly, people who have a high novelty seeking trait are expected to react strongly to the stimulation of dopamine-using (i.e., dopaminergic) nerve cells. Treatment for alcohol use disorder varies depending on the severity of your symptoms and how long the condition has persisted. The most common treatment options for people with the condition include the following listed below.

Can People With Alcohol Use Disorder Recover?

This pattern of alcohol use is more likely to be hazardous than non-binging patterns. Not all alcoholics know they suffer from a substance abuse problem because denial is a regular and expected aspect of alcoholism. As exceptions, functional and young antisocial alcoholics are can police dogs smell nicotine more likely to be aware of their drinking problem. Alcohol use disorder is a multifaceted issue that affects individuals differently.

Regular meetings can help you stay strong in your recovery and stick to important goals. Most smoke, and many also abuse marijuana, cocaine, and opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers. NI Direct.“Young people and risks of alcohol.” NI Direct, September 10, 2019. If you or someone you love falls into these categories, do not hesitate to reach out for support.

What Are the Legal Consequences of Alcohol Abuse?

For more information about treatment options, see NIAAA’s Treatment for Alcohol Problems booklet. This combination can mirror the “active ingredients” of the best specialty programs. At the same time, it’s a way to get higher quality, one-on-one care that maintains privacy. If you have insurance coverage or other means to cover the costs, you can build your own care team. The Navigator can help you find therapists and doctors with addiction specialties to team with your primary care provider.

Alcohol Treatment with Dr. Wandler

1. This group also suffers from high rates of cigarette, marijuana, and cocaine addiction.
2. While it is very unlikely that a member of this group will seek out treatment, they are most likely to seek out a 12-step program if they do.
3. Accordingly, reduced MAO activity could indicate a reduced turnover of serotonin in the central nervous system (CNS) (Oreland and Shaskan 1983).

This area of the brain involves a person’s decision-making and time-management skills. When the prefrontal cortex is impaired due to addiction, the person becomes fixated on consuming alcohol and when they can have their next drink. When that next drink comes, they circle back to stage one, and the addiction cycle continues. With the lowest employment rate and the highest divorce and separation rates, this group has the time to drink more than any other.

Behavioral Treatments

They are typically in their middle-twenties and possess a history including an early initiation of alcohol abuse. Over 50% have a family history of AUD and half have also been diagnosed with an Antisocial Personality Disorder. Many Young Antisocials also struggle with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.

It’s more appropriate to say “a person with alcohol use disorder” or “substance use disorder.” Following a description of the term “alcoholic,” this article will use the more appropriate terminology. Young adults comprise the largest portion—31.5%—of people with alcohol use disorder in the United States. And within that group, college students are most likely to engage in alcohol misuse and develop AUD. If you are struggling with alcohol misuse despite negative personal, professional, and health consequences, you may fit into one of the five types of alcoholism or alcoholics.