Are you concerned about your potential alcoholism or a member of your family displaying signs of alcohol dependence? The truth is that there’s not one type of alcoholic out there. Some may have recently discovered alcohol. Others may have a family or multi-generational family history, yet others may have an alcohol dependence with a co-occurring mental health disorder. This article will discuss and explore the different types of alcohol addiction.

5 types of Alcoholism

If you drink, you may be wondering if you fall into any of the five alcoholism stages as identified by the NIAAA and reported by the NIH. If you do find that you match the criteria for one of these stages, you may want to consider getting treatment for your alcoholism. Let’s look at these stages and the types of individuals most likely to fall into each category.

1. Young Adult

These individuals are 18 or older through their early 20s. They may have just gone to college and are experiencing their first taste of freedom from their parents. These individuals rarely have a family history of alcoholism. The young adult subtype comprises 31.5 percent of the alcoholics in the US, and they seldom seek help for their alcoholism.

2. Young Antisocial

The young antisocial subtype encompasses individuals in their mid-20s. These young adults tend to have a family history of alcoholism, and most also have an Antisocial Personality Disorder diagnosis. For these individuals, their drinking starts early in life, and the use of marijuana and cigarettes usually accompanies it. This group comprises 21 percent of the alcoholics in the US, and just over a third typically seek help.

3. Functional

The functional subtype encompasses individuals who have stable jobs and families and are well-educated. They are usually middle-aged with a family history of alcoholism. In fact, about 33 percent of the individuals have a multi-generational history of alcoholism, and slightly less than 50 percent were smokers. This category makes up about 19.5 percent of the alcoholics in the United States.

4. Intermediate Familial

This category also contains individuals who are middle-aged with a multi-generational history of alcoholism. These individuals usually have a history of depression or bipolar disorder. Most also smoked cigarettes, and some individuals in this category have also used cocaine or marijuana. About 19 percent of alcoholics fall into this category, and roughly 25 percent seek treatment for their alcoholism.

5. Chronic Severe

Individuals in the chronic severe category also tend to be middle-aged, like the previous two categories. However, they tend to have high rates of antisocial personality disorder, and they’ve had many brushes with the law. Most of these individuals come from families with alcoholism that goes back many generations. These individuals also tend to have mental health disorders and high rates of drug use in addition to their drinking. The good news is that 66 percent of these individuals eventually seek treatment.

Four Stages of Alcoholism

In addition to the five types of alcoholics, there are also four stages of alcoholism.

• Pre-alcoholic – These individuals are simply experimenting with alcohol. They may have just gone to college or just turned 21. They may binge drink or engage in heavy drinking to become intoxicated. As they become more comfortable with drinking, they may use it to cope with stress or negative emotions.
• Early – the early stage is where a pattern of alcohol misuse develops. The individual may start drinking more regularly and use parties or get-togethers as an excuse to drink. They may also start drinking more often to avoid hangovers.
• Middle – at the middle stage of alcoholism, friends and family may have noticed the individual’s heavy drinking, and as a result, their family relationships are worsening. The individual may even start their day with a drink or keep an alcoholic beverage next to their bed like someone else might keep a glass of water. If they stop drinking, they may notice that they feel increasingly worse, and their overall health may worsen as a result of their heavy alcohol consumption.
• Late – Individuals with late-stage alcoholism must drink to avoid alcohol withdrawal syndrome and to feel normal. At this stage, the individual needs professional help to stop drinking and regain sobriety because their body has grown dependent on alcohol.

Overcoming the Forms of Alcoholism With Help From Sabino Recovery

Do you fall into one of the types of alcoholics? If you’ve never considered yourself dependent on alcohol before, you may be shocked. However, there is good news. Our caring staff at Sabino Recovery is familiar with all the forms of alcoholism, and we can help you recover. We do this through our comprehensive treatment program that encompasses emotional and physical safety, Neurotherapy, brain mapping, neurofeedback, psychotherapy, and other treatment modalities. We even have a family program so that families can heal together.

To learn more about our science-based treatment program for alcohol addiction, give us a call at 844-227-7014.