Developing community-based support systems, increasing access to affordable treatment options, and implementing policies that address the root causes of alcohol abuse can create a more supportive environment. Treatment approaches for the Young Adult Alcoholic subtype often necessitate strategies that address peer influence, the social normalization of binge drinking, and a lack of recognition of their alcohol problem. Therapy can be continued in the long term, even after leaving rehab, meaning that it is one of the most effective forms of treatment for all types of alcoholics at any stage of their recovery. Individuals who drink chronically are shown to exhibit far more aggressive behaviours than other types of alcoholics, meaning that they often engage in antisocial behaviours and/or crime. If an individual does not withdraw safely, then they risk a host of issues. This can include the development of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) – a broad term that includes multiple severe withdrawal symptoms and can make future rehabilitation a far longer and more complex process (2).

• Their alcoholism usually manifests by the time they are 18 or 19, and more than half come from families with alcoholism.
• By understanding the varied landscapes of AUD, professionals can better address the specific needs of each subgroup, paving the way for more effective alcoholism treatment approaches.
• About half are smokers, and one-quarter of them suffer from depression at some point during their lives.
• While intermediate familial alcoholics are often able to maintain their jobs and relationships, their drinking habits can have a significant impact on their daily lives.

Additionally, alcoholism can exacerbate existing mental health issues and make them more difficult to manage. Confirmation of the hypothesis that only two broad categories of alcoholics exist would represent an important breakthrough for theory development and treatment matching. Treatment matching and patient placement also might profit from this knowledge, provided that different therapeutic approaches and treatment settings prove to be differentially effective with different types of alcoholics. Despite one-and-a-half centuries of progress and a remarkable acceleration of interest in alcohol research in the past two decades, these critical issues continue to define the challenge as well as the promise of typology theory. Of all subtypes, the functional subtype is the least likely to have legal problems; they are the least likely to report problems due to their drinking. They have the highest education levels and incomes of all types of alcoholics.

Intermediate Familial Alcoholic

Our goal is to inspire hope and create lasting change while you or a loved one are coping with the challenges of mental health and addiction – one client at a time. A young adult alcoholic is a person who begins drinking alcoholic beverages at a young age and continues with binge drinking in their early adulthood. Our approach is compassionate and person-centered, addressing the unique circumstances and personal challenges each client faces with personalized care. Clinicians must be aware of the Young Antisocial subtype, as early identification and intervention may improve treatment outcomes.

In addition to medical treatment, behavioral therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management may help address the psychological aspects of alcohol dependence and promote abstinence. The Chronic Severe Subtype of alcoholism is considered the most severe 5 types of alcoholics and debilitating subtype. Individuals with this subtype typically have a long history of heavy alcohol use and often have a co-occurring mental health disorder. They may also have a family history of alcoholism and exhibit severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit drinking.

Determining Your Alcoholic Type

Rather, they are meant to further the study of alcoholism and guide future research and prevention efforts. More than half of young antisocial alcoholics have a family history of alcoholism, and around half also struggle with antisocial personality disorder. When a person suffers from a co-occurring mental health disorder, the risk for also developing alcoholism or problems https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with substance abuse are elevated. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes that co-occurring mental health disorders and addiction are common, as about 8 million adults in America battled both in 2014. They typically start drinking early and quickly become dependent on alcohol, often by their late teens or early 20s.

Within a group such as this, individuals can talk about the issues they faced while addicted in a judgement-free environment around others who may have similar experiences. After undergoing a full detox, it is always recommended that individuals follow this with therapy or counselling of some form. Two of the most effective addiction treatments are outlined in the following subheadings. Luckily, there are many ways in which individuals can go about this, specialised to their needs and requirements on a personal level. Most of these individuals will have a family history of AUD, meaning that they were more likely to be exposed to this behaviour as a young child or adolescent.

The Young Antisocial Alcoholic

This subtype often develops their patterns of addiction in their late teens to early 30s. Unlike some other subtypes, they might also experience a mix of regular and binge drinking patterns. Alcohol Use Disorder manifests in various forms, challenging the one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and understanding. An intermediate familial alcoholic is a person who has a family history of alcoholism and may have a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction.

• Many people who fall into the young antisocial alcoholic subtype suffer from other mental health disorders as well, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or depression.
• This subgroup is very likely to have had immediate family members with alcoholism.
• Jellinek’s classic work on the different “species” of alcoholism (1960a, b), which is widely considered to be the first scientific alcoholism typology.
• They may also have a family history of alcoholism and exhibit severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit drinking.
• Intermediate familiar alcoholics are typically employed and have a close family member who’s an alcoholic too.
• It’s important to note that young antisocial alcoholics may have a history of criminal behavior, and may struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation.