Understanding The 5 Different Types Of Alcohol Addicts

Alcohol is everywhere — and not only is drinking socially acceptable, it's also often simply expected. The facts that over 86 percent of US report they've ever had alcohol, 70 percent say they've boozed it up in the last year, and over half say they've had a drink (or many more than one) in the last month come as no surprise. 

While many of those people enjoy alcohol responsibly and in moderation, about 15 million adults in the United States suffer from an alcohol use disorder — they're alcoholics. Alcohol is among the leading causes of preventable deaths, but it doesn't just kill. Booze also ruins lives. 

This discovery may cause insights into the diverse causes of alcohol addiction, as well as helping individual addicts abstain more successfully. What do you need to know?

What are the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder?

To be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder — a pattern of problematic use that constitutes addiction — a person will have at least two of these "symptoms", though often many more, over a period of at least a year:

• The person drinks alcohol more often than they intended to, in larger amounts, or over a longer period of time. (Maybe you've told yourself you'll lay off the booze this week only to give in on the second day, or perhaps you find yourself unable to have that "just one drink" — ever.)
• The person desperately wants to keep their alcohol use under control or has made multiple unsuccessful efforts to cut down on their use.
• Alcohol starts taking over the person's life — much time is spent drinking, trying to get a drink, or nursing a hangover. 
• The person craves alcohol. 
• The person's drinking habits interfere with their ability to fulfill important responsibilities, like doing their job, paying attention at school, or running a successful home.
• The person's alcohol use has a negative impact on the relationships in their life, and despite knowing this, they keep drinking. 
• The person gives up on, or reduces, engagement in social, recreational, or other important activities so they can spend time drinking or recovering from drinking.
• The person drinks in situations where it's dangerous, like before driving or operating heavy machinery. 
• The person's drinking habits cause them mental or physical health problems or at least make them worse. Despite knowing this, their drinking continues. 
• The person has built up a tolerance — drinking the same amount as before no longer gets them the feeling they're after, or they drink increasingly large amounts to get drunk. (At this point, an alcoholic may need a drink simply to feel "normal".)
• When the person stops drinking, they experience withdrawal symptoms. 

You need to tick six or more of these boxes to be considered a severe alcoholic, and four to five to have a moderately severe alcohol use disorder. Remember, though, that you only need to have two of the symptoms to be diagnosed. Many people than you'd expect at first sight would meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder if they were totally honest with themselves. 

The young adult subtype of alcoholic

Young adults under the age of 25, who mostly started drinking in their teens, make up this subtype. Young adult alcoholics were found to have low rates of mental disorders for which they might have turned to alcohol to self-medicate, as well as, perhaps surprisingly, low rates of alcoholism in their family history. They're also less likely than some other groups to abuse other substances in addition to alcohol. They are likely to be physically dependent on alcohol, however, and are among the alcoholic subtypes least likely to turn to their doctors for help. This group makes up a shocking 31.5 percent of the total number of alcoholics in the United States. 

The young antisocial subtype of alcoholic

Also young, around the same age as the previous group, these addicts often suffer from mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. Around half suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder. Over 50 percent have a family history of alcoholism, and many abuse other substances as well. You may be surprised to learn that around a third of alcoholics belonging to this subtype (which comprises about 20 percent of total alcoholics) ends up seeking help for their drinking. Perhaps this is because they're more likely to come into contact with mental health professionals?

The functional subtype of alcoholic

Functional alcoholics, who are often able to hide their addictions from the people around them quite well, are mostly middle-aged people with jobs and family lives. They may outwardly appear to be pretty successful, and organize their lives so they either drink covertly or in situations where it is socially acceptable. Many smoke cigarettes, some abuse illegal drugs, and one in three will have a family history of alcohol addiction. This group makes up just under 20 percent of total alcoholics. 

The intermediate familial subtype of alcoholic

These people, too, are middle-aged. Many suffer from mental health struggles like depression and bipolar disorder, and about half come from families that likewise featured drinking problems. Most are men, and many abuse other substances as well. Around a quarter of these alcoholics, who make up 19 percent of all alcohol addicts, will seek help.

The chronic severe subtype of alcoholic

Finally, the chronic severe subtype of alcohol addict is most likely to be middle-aged or older and to have started drinking early — often as early as age 15. This group features high rates of mental disorders, including Antisocial Personality Disorder and bipolar disorder, and many have committed crimes. This kind of alcoholic is least likely to be successful at abstaining for very long, and their alcohol-related health problems often land them in the emergency room. The use of other drugs is extremely common among this group of addicts, as well. 

Does knowing about these subtypes have any real value?

The research might, in future, help healthcare providers identify alcoholism more easily, as well as allowing researchers to look into the best ways to get each type of alcoholic into treatment. Once there, knowing more about the characteristics associated with each group may also enable clinicians to tailor the emotional support they can offer to the individual needs of each different kind of alcoholic.