Content
Professional counseling or therapy services can be particularly effective in addressing both the underlying emotional issues that contribute to addiction as well as any co-occurring mental health disorders. Additionally, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous provide a safe space for individuals struggling with addiction to connect with others who understand what they’re going through. Despite these shortcomings, the early attempts to differentiate and classify alcoholics had a positive influence on the development of alcohol studies.
Often, functional alcoholics have a family history going back several generations of alcohol abuse. One-fourth of functional alcoholics have had at least one major depressive illness episode in their life. Someone with functional alcoholism can suffer from another mental health disorder besides a major depressive illness.
What is Considered an Alcoholic?
Chronic alcoholics should first be given diminishing doses of alcohol to reduce the risk of delirium tremens before being treated with drugs and “suggestion.” The drug of choice was atropine, given in conjunction with strychnine. Suggestion, especially under light hypnosis, was designed to “lessen the risk of relapse long after treatment is ended” (p. 68). According to Wingfield, suggestion reduces “haunting ideas of drink,” increases the patient’s will power, and sometimes brings to light repressed memories, “effecting a real cure thereby” (pp. 69–70). Unlike young adult alcoholics, antisocial alcoholics don’t drink socially with peers. Instead, antisocial alcoholics drink alone and typically struggle with co-occurring mental health problems.
Although binge drinking is not in itself a form of alcohol use disorder, it increases one’s risk of developing one and may still result in health problems. Not surprisingly, alcohol affects just about every aspect of their life. They have the highest rate of emergency room visits for their drinking, and they’re likely to suffer medical problems due to alcohol abuse. Functional alcoholics are often able to maintain their responsibilities despite their drinking. However, signs that someone may be a functional alcoholic include frequently drinking alone, feeling guilty or defensive about their drinking habits, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit. However, recognizing the potential impact of genetics on addiction can help individuals take steps to mitigate their risk.
Can People With Alcohol Use Disorder Recover?
Young Antisocial alcoholics are at a higher risk for alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, and early intervention is critical. Individuals with this subtype have a higher likelihood of having first-degree relatives with alcoholism, indicating a genetic component to the disorder. They are also more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, indicating a physical dependence on alcohol. Treatment for the Young Adult Subtype often involves a combination of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, pharmacotherapy, and addressing any underlying mental health disorders.
This group also sees the highest rate of emergency room visits due to drinking. That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. Intermediate familiar alcoholics are typically employed and have a close family member who’s an alcoholic too. To achieve sobriety, he says, treatment must focus on “complete abstinence and elimination of other forms of substance abuse and also mainstreaming their behaviors” so they function better in society. MAT uses medications approved by the FDA to treat AUD alongside counseling and behavioral therapies.
Phone, Video, or Live-Chat Support
Of the five types of alcoholics discovered in the study, they have the lowest education levels and employment rates of all. They are also likely to be regular smokers and use other substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and opioids. While over 6% of the American adult population suffers from AUD, only about 10% of those who need help for alcohol abuse and addiction actually seek out professional treatment, according to the NIAAA . By better understanding the different types of alcoholics, treatment methods can be personalized to the individual, making them more desirable and effective for a healthy recovery.
Nearly half of intermediate familial alcoholics (47 percent) suffer from depression, and other mental health conditions are also fairly common. Examples may include anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s worth noting that young adult alcoholics are more likely to have grown up in homes where alcohol abuse was common. Additionally, they may have a family history of alcoholism, which can increase their risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. While some young adult alcoholics may be able to quit drinking on their own, many require professional help to address underlying emotional issues that contribute to their alcohol use disorder.
Caron Outpatient Treatment Center
However, while they are “functional” in a sense, they are still suffering from addiction. Less than 20% of this subgroup has sought help, and most do so from a 12-Step program or a private https://ecosoberhouse.com/ health care professional. Previous efforts to identify alcoholism subtypes focused primarily on individuals who were hospitalized or otherwise receiving treatment for their alcoholism.
