Penick EC, Reed MR, Crawley PA, Powell BJ. Differentiation of alcoholics by family history. Parrella DP, Filstead WJ. Definition of onset in the development of onset-based alcoholism typologies. Despite these significant improvements in recent typology research, the field still faces some challenging issues. For example, perhaps because of the differences in measurement techniques and methodological approaches, typology researchers types of alcoholics have not always recognized the similarities between their own work and that of other investigators. And although some theories are likely to endure longer than others, a more fundamental question remains concerning the utility of typologies for theory development and clinical practice. Nevertheless, Jellinek’s work provided typology research with a new impetus that ushered in the post-Jellinek era of typology development.

• Multiple different reasons can spur someone to drink until they’ve become dependent on alcohol.
• This type of alcoholic makes up around 18.8% of all individuals with an alcohol use disorder- around 1 in 5.
• These types of alcoholics, for example, have a 52.5% probability of having a first and second-degree family member with an alcohol use disorder.
• Gamma – The alcoholic loses all control when consuming alcohol AND has a severe physical dependence.
• Treatment typically consists of detoxification followed by a comprehensive alcoholism rehabilitation program, including support groups, individual counseling, family therapy, and medication management where necessary.
• For example, functional subtypes are successful in maintaining employment, having good relationships with others, and keeping up with activities and hobbies that they enjoy.

They are often unemployed, have no contact with family or friends, and have multiple unsuccessful attempts at cutting back on alcohol. An example of a functional alcoholic is an individual who is able to maintain a certain level of personal and professional success, but likely has an underlying struggle with irresistible cravings brought by alcohol use disorder. Researchers foundthat they have the highest rates of employment among alcoholics, with 68% working full-time and an average family income of nearly $50,000 a year. About 64% are male, while around 38% are married and 21% are divorced. In developmentally cumulative alcoholism, drinking initially is limited and induced by cultural influences.

Alcoholism Treatment Options

Many Young Antisocials also struggle with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. Yes, there is a difference in treatment for different types of alcoholics. According to the study from NIAAA, members of the young adult and functional subtypes are more likely to seek help through 12-step programs. Researchers foundthat about 62% of functional alcoholics work full-time, 3.6% are in school full-time, and 5% are retired. Nearly 26% have a college degree or higher, and the average household income is almost $60,000, the highest among any of the subtypes.

• Chronic severe alcoholics have the highest rate of family alcoholism out of any other subtype- almost 80% come from a family with a history of alcohol abuse problems.
• Young adult alcoholics are the most common type of alcoholic, making up almost 32 percent of the total.
• In this group, you’ll find mostly men with a higher than average divorce rate.
• Only about a fourth of those in this subtype have sought treatment, usually from specialty treatment programs, detoxification clinics or self-help groups.

A social drinker consumes alcohol in various settings, such as homes, restaurants and celebrations, to bond, relax and socialize with others. If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today. Treatment providers can connect you with programs that provide the tools to help you get and stay sober.

What are the types of alcoholics?

Social inebriates drink openly with other drinkers, whereas unsocial, or solitary, inebriates shun the company of others and tend to drink secretly, often because of “neurasthenia” (i.e., exhaustion of the nervous system). The editorial staff of Alcohol.org, an American Addiction Centers resources, is made up of credentialed clinical reviewers with hands-on experience in, or expert knowledge of, addiction treatment. You are likely to seek help for your drinking and may have already been through a treatment program.

The individual case needs to be assessed by a professional as to the best treatment. Interventions are often used to get a functioning alcoholic subtype to be aware of how their behavior is affecting others and creating problems. Many times, a functioning alcoholic will not realize their behavior is a problem and deny that they have an addiction to alcohol. This is because they manage to hold down jobs, have a relatively normal family and social life, and unless a significant event occurs relating to their alcoholism, they will not see that they are doing anything wrong.

Examples of Typologies Developed in the Post-Jellinek Era

Someone who is a functional alcoholic will often live a completely normal life and can even be very successful. Functional alcoholics don’t always appear to have an alcohol use disorder. This group, among other types of alcoholics, is the least likely to get help.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Bellevue, Washington is the perfect option for anyone struggling with alcoholism but doesn’t have the time to commit to full-blown inpatient rehabilitation. We offer the highest quality alcohol rehab services in the area and use only individualized plans that are crafted to meet your individual needs- no cookie-cutter programs here. And even more importantly, overcoming alcoholism of any type is going to be the most successful when it’s done with the help of a professional treatment program.

Michelle Rosenker is a content writer for JourneyPure where she gets to exercise her journalistic skills by working with different addiction treatment centers nationwide. She has 10 years of experience in the field of addiction treatment and mental health and has written content for some of the country’s most prominent treatment centers and behavioral hospitals. Through her writing, Michelle is proud to continually raise awareness about the disease of addiction and share hope for the future. She lives next to the ocean in Massachusetts with her husband, two young children, and faithful dog. Of this type, about76% are maleand only7.6% have received a college degree, although another13.4% are still in school. Approximately47% are employed full time.Family incomes average around $32,000, the lowest among the subtypes alongside the chronic severe subtype.

• Members of this subgroup have an increased risk of suffering from major depression, antisocial personality disorder , bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder at some point in their lives.
• Moreover, they did not lead to the development of theories explaining the etiology, manifestations, and consequences of alcoholism, because they did not propose verification procedures to test assumptions and predict behavior.
• Drinking to cope is more commonly found in adolescents and young adults than in other age groups.
• Members of this group are 2.5 times more likely to be male than female and are usually single.
• That’s because they’re able to balance their drinking with their personal and professional life.