Five Types of Alcoholics; Which One Best Describes You?

You might think that there is only one kind of treatment what would cure all alcoholics.

But in actuality, we have discovered that there are many types of alcoholics that require varying types and levels of treatment.

These harmful effects that alcohol has in a person is determined by the person’s age, the person’s emotional levels, and the severity of the alcoholism.

If you or your loved one is suffering from alcohol abuse, but you aren’t quite sure what type of alcoholic situation applies to you, him or her, read on further on all the general types of people who drink.

We have established five types of alcoholics, and they are categorized by the following:

Functional Alcoholics

Functional alcoholics make up about a fifth of all documented alcoholics. They are able to maintain strong relationships, work in good jobs, and achieve high levels of education. This type of alcoholic mostly consists of men and women who are 40 or over and have a vast history with alcohol, and suffer from bipolar disorder and/or depression.

They tend to drink several times each week, but they can still be admitted into an outpatient program to achieve effective results.

Young Adult Alcoholics

One-third of all documented alcoholics are young adults. These are usually the least hostile and dangerous type of drinker, but that isn’t to say that there are no such drinkers of this type that warrant rehabilitation or treatment.

Many of them do not have a history of mental health problems, nor do they or their family have an important history of drinking. While they tend to drink less often, like once a week, they will tend to drink a harmful amount when they do. This type is not as likely to seek or warrant treatment.

Young Antisocial Alcoholics

This type of alcoholic consists of young adults that have likely started drinking before age 21. Many of these alcoholics are known to suffer from bipolar disorder, depression, and social anxiety disorder. These types of people usually get involved in violence, criminal acts, and the disregard for his/her own and others’ safety.

This type of alcoholic may also abuse one or more drugs. Only about a third of this type of alcoholics seek treatment, but when they do, it is usually specialty programs or intensive outpatient program NJ.

Intermediate Familial Alcoholism

This type of alcoholic shares a few similarities with the functional alcoholic; They consist of older adults that hold successful full-time work, and have likely been drinking since a young age. These types of alcoholics also have other substance abuse problems, too, such as smoking or doing drugs.

These alcoholics likely have families that have a history of drinking. Even so, only about a third of these alcoholics seek help from healthcare programs.

Chronic Severe Alcoholics

Only about one in every 10 documented alcoholics is this type. This type is known to lead to antisocial and criminal behavior, thanks to the ongoing habits of drinking. Chronic severe alcoholics also have the highest frequency of emergency room visits, withdrawals, incidents at work or school, and divorces.

This type of alcoholic consists of mostly men in their late 30s and early 40s that have a history of drinking. If you suspect that you or your loved one falls in this category, we strongly consider an intensive outpatient program NJ for the best chance of recovery.

If you feel ashamed of discovering what kind of alcoholic you or your loved one might be, don’t be. There are several ways to help you recover effectively and diligently with a reputable inpatient or outpatient program.

 

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