This program serves as a follow-up treatment, designed to offer a longer-term structure to those who have completed inpatient or intensive outpatient programs. Regardless of the specific type of substance a person is using, there will be similar signs and symptoms. While different types of substances can cause various signs and symptoms, being addicted to any type of substance results in the same action on the addiction center in the brain. Examples of these medications include Naltrexone (Vivitrol), Acamprosate (Campral), and Disulfiram (Antabuse). It allows you to focus on recovery in an environment free from triggers and distractions. This post discusses five distinct categories of people who suffer from alcoholism.
Your health care provider can help you evaluate the pros and cons of each treatment setting. Many people with AUD do recover, but setbacks are common among people in treatment. Behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking.
The effort was made to categorize different types of alcoholics, partly to dispel the myth that there is a typical alcoholic. Identifying the specific type of alcoholic makes it easier to understand and treat people’s problems. Before we dive into the different types of alcoholics, let’s first establish what actually defines an alcoholic.
Treatments Led by Health Care Providers
If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. Examples of medications for substance use disorders include those that treat the various stages of recovery. Caring for a person who has problems with alcohol can be very stressful. It is important that as you try to help your loved one, you also find a way to take care of yourself. It may help to seek support from others, including friends, family, community, and support groups. If you are developing your own symptoms of depression or anxiety, think about seeking professional help for yourself.
Medical Professionals
- Unlike young adult alcoholics, antisocial alcoholics don’t drink socially with peers.
- Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.
- Couples and family counseling incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships.
- The provider can help adjust the treatment plan and aid long-term recovery.
- It’s also critical to understand their experiences with substance abuse.
- They suspected that genetic differences account for the different types of AUDs.
In addition, 17% seek substance addiction treatment at private facilities. In the U.S., the young adult alcoholic subtype comprises 31.5% of all alcoholics. This demographic’s average age is 24, with most being male, single, still in school, and with family histories of alcoholism. While binge drinking doesn’t necessarily equate to alcoholism, it can be a precursor or warning sign.
If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. The first subtype of alcoholism is the young adult subtype, also called the young alcoholic. Alcoholics Anonymous® (also known as “AA”) and other 12-step programs provide peer support for people quitting or cutting back on their drinking. Combined with treatment led by health care providers, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable added layer of support. Alcohol use disorder is a multifaceted issue that affects individuals differently.
Coping With a Substance Use Disorder
Because denial is common, you may feel like you 7 Topics Covered in Group Therapy for Substance Abuse don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. Outpatient treatment is a less intensive program that usually involves fewer hours and days per week.
Currently, there are three medications approved for AUD in the United States, and they are an effective and important aid in the treatment of people with this condition. Acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions increase awareness and acceptance of present-moment experiences. Mindfulness-based skill-building strategies promote flexible, rather than autopilot, responses to triggers that can prompt drinking. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and what may work for one person may not be a good fit for someone else.
Maintaining sobriety after treatment for substance use is no small undertaking. It’s a lifelong journey involving continually learning how to apply new coping skills to everyday life. Remember that changing long-standing patterns is hard, takes time, and requires repeated efforts. We usually experience setbacks along the way, learn from them, and then keep going. Matching the right therapy to the individual is important to its success. It may also be helpful to determine whether the treatment will be adapted to meet changing needs as they arise.
According to the NIAAA, to determine the level of severity, individuals are asked questions similar to what’s listed below. The number of times an individual answers “yes” to one of those questions helps to determine the severity level — mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria). If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder.
Couples and family counseling incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships. Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence (not drinking) compared with people going to individual counseling. To learn more about alcohol treatment options and search for quality care near you, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator. If you are struggling with alcohol misuse despite negative personal, professional, and health consequences, you may fit into one of the five types of alcoholism or alcoholics.