When you find a drug rehab, one of the most important things you must do is find a drug rehab that treats your specific needs. Even though they each suffer from alcoholism, there are different types of alcoholics. Each kind will require different kinds of alcohol treatment programs — addiction therapy, medication management, ancillary services, etc.
5 Types of Alcoholics
Scientists and addiction treatment specialists have long wondered why some alcoholics/addicts respond to only specific types of addiction therapy, medication, etc. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, it’s because there are different kinds of alcohol/drug addicts. So, it makes sense that only different kinds of alcohol treatment will work for them. Here are 5 subtypes of alcoholism and how we can help them.
Young Adult
- % Alcohol Addicted Population - 31.5%
- Demographic - Young adult/adolescent (~13 - 19 years old)
- Dual Diagnosis/Cross-Addiction - Low levels of both dual diagnosis and cross-addiction to other substances
- Family History - Relatively little histories of alcoholism in family
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment - Rarely find or receive treatment
Young Antisocial
- % Alcohol Addicted Population - 21%
- Demographic - Mostly mid-20s, with early symptoms of alcohol abuse
- Dual Diagnosis - 50% can be diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder, and many suffer from depression, bipolar, and anxiety disorders
- Cross-Addiction - Over 75 % use cigarettes and marijuana, and cocaine and opiate addictions are also common
- Family History - Over 50% have family histories of alcoholism
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment - About 1 in 3 are treated
Functioning
- % Alcohol Addicted Population - 19.5%
- Demographic - “Middle aged” (about 40 - 60 years old), mostly educated with relatively steady careers and social lives
- Dual Diagnosis/Cross-Addiction - About 1 in 4 suffer from major depression, and over half are smokers.
- Family History - 1 in 3 have family histories of alcoholism throughout multiple generations
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment - So-called “functioning alcoholics” rarely recognize their own alcohol abuse, and so hardly ever seek treatment
Intermediate/Familial
- % Alcohol Addicted Population - 19%
- Demographic - “Middle aged” (about 40 - 60 years old)
- Dual Diagnosis - Almost 1 in 2 have experienced depression and 1 in 5 are bipolar
- Cross-Addiction - The vast majority are smokers, and about 20% have abused cocaine and marijuana
- Family History - 50% have family histories of alcoholism throughout multiple generations
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment - 25% have sought treatment
Chronic/Severe
- % Alcohol Addicted Population - 9%
- Demographic - “Middle aged” (about 40 - 60 years old) with early drinking problems and criminal behavior
- Dual Diagnosis - High occurrence of antisocial personality, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders
- Cross-Addiction - High cross-addictions with nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, and opiates
- Family History - As many as 80% have family histories of alcoholism throughout multiple generations
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment - 2/3 seek treatment
Until this survey, most studies had only researched different types of alcoholics in alcohol addiction rehab. However, these numbers show how inaccurate those studies could be. While chronic alcoholics made up only 9 percent of total alcohol addicts, they make up two-thirds of treated alcohol addicts.
It’s clear that we need to do all we can to help these others find a drug rehab that treats their needs — especially young substance abusers and “functioning alcoholics,” who rarely ever get help.