Over 15 million Americans struggle with this disease, and that’s only those over the age of 18. Knowing where you or your loved one falls under the five categories of alcoholics can help you recognize and understand the signs of a developing addiction. They often have steady jobs, relationships, decent family incomes, and have accomplished a higher education. Genetic, environmental, and psychological factors influence the risk of becoming an alcoholic. Some may be more inclined to develop alcoholism due to their genetics and family history, while others may develop alcoholism due to environmental and psychological factors.
She took her Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology at Angeles University Foundation and graduated with flying colors. The combination of having a good medical background, being a mom, and wanting to help people, especially the elderly has cultivated her passion for working in remote areas with love and compassion. And Hsiao-Ye Yi, Ph.D., of the Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System at CSR Inc., in Arlington, Virginia.
What Does a Functional Alcoholic Look Like?
If you suspect that you or someone you know may be struggling with functional alcoholism, it’s crucial to seek help from healthcare professionals or addiction specialists. The chronic severe subtype is the rarest subtype, accounting for about 9 percent of U.S. alcoholics. This subtype mainly includes men, has the highest divorce rate, and frequently includes users of illicit drugs. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) establishes five different types of alcoholics. Each category represents a unique group, but they are all determined by the same factors.
Those who do tend to make use of 12-step programs and private health care professionals. They also have a later age of first drinking (average of 19 years) and a later onset of alcohol dependence at an average of 37 years. They tend to drink alcohol every other day, an average of 181 days per year, and they consume five or more drinks on 54% of five types of alcoholics those days. Almost 35% of young antisocial alcoholics have sought help for their alcohol dependence problems. They tend to go to self-help groups, alcohol detox programs, specialty treatment programs, and private health care providers. On average, they drink about 143 days each year, and they typically consume five or more drinks at a time.
Causes of Alcohol Use Disorder
If you find that the above descriptions resemble you or a loved one, you’re not alone. At The Recovery Village, we offer evidence-based treatment methods that can address every aspect of each client’s treatment needs. We want to guide you down the path to recovery – call today to learn more.
MAT uses medications approved by the FDA to treat AUD alongside counseling and behavioral therapies. These medications can help reduce cravings, block the effects of alcohol, and treat withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia. This type of treatment allows you to receive help in an outpatient setting while still attending to your everyday responsibilities. This is a great option for people with mild to moderate addiction and those who have already gone through inpatient treatment.
The Role of Genetics in the Development of Alcoholism
There are five major subtypes of alcoholics as identified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), each with different characteristics. By understanding each type of alcoholic, you can learn how this disease affects you personally so you can seek the treatment you need. Previous efforts to identify alcoholism subtypes focused primarily on individuals who were hospitalized or otherwise receiving treatment for their alcoholism. Thus, a substantial proportion of people with alcoholism were not represented in the samples previously used to define subtypes of this disease. This group has a higher education level than most but not as high as the functional subtype. More members of this group have full-time jobs than any other, but their income level tends to be lower than the functional subtype.
