Main Types of Alcohol, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Alcohols

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. In discussing the general causes and conditions favoring inebriety, Crothers (1911) also classified alcoholism as either acquired or hereditary. Tips for Treating and Living With Essential Tremor Cleveland Clinic People with acquired inebriety often have histories of physical disorders, particularly dyspepsia (i.e., indigestion), bad nutrition, and exhaustion from unhygienic living conditions or stressful work environments. Conversely, hereditary causes include constitutional conditions, such as distinct neurotic and psychopathic disorders that often are traceable to ancestors.

These examples demonstrate that although various typologies use different defining criteria, they often identify similar subgroups of alcoholics. With the lowest levels of education, employment, and income of any subtype, this group also drinks more at one time and more overall than other groups. Yet, members of this group—35%—are more likely to seek help, https://g-markets.net/sober-living/100-most-inspiring-addiction-recovery-quotes/ and from multiple sources, including private healthcare providers, self-help groups, specialty treatment programs, and detox programs. This subtype is mostly comprised of middle-aged people who developed alcohol use disorder at an early age, suffer from high rates of antisocial personality disorder and have had problems within the criminal justice system.

What Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?

Unfortunately, less than 10% of those adults with negative drinking patterns or who were alcohol-dependent received professional support for different stages of alcoholism in 2015. Since the causes of alcoholism vary from person to person, the best treatment for one might not work for the next. While treatment for all alcoholics remains generally similar, some may respond better to different addiction support types than others.

Functional alcoholics are more likely to smoke but usually aren’t addicted to other substances. They typically drink every other day, consuming five or more drinks on average, and they often surround themselves with others who drink heavily. That’s exactly what happened to ABC news anchor Elizabeth Vargas, a functional alcoholic who sought treatment for an alcohol addiction in 2014 after years of trying to hide her drinking. https://g-markets.net/sober-living/intermittent-explosive-disorder-symptoms-and/ Whether you select inpatient or outpatient care, seeking professional detox under medical supervision when giving up alcohol is important. In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can result in severe symptoms5, like seizures and a potentially fatal condition called delirium tremens. Statistically, young adults comprise the largest group of alcoholics in the U.S., with nearly 32% of all alcoholics falling into this category.

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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. A study by scientists at the NIAAA, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), analyzed 1,484 survey respondents who met specific diagnostic criteria for alcohol addiction. The study included people both in treatment and not seeking treatment. Because their alcohol addiction has fewer obvious negative consequences, an important aspect of dealing with an alcoholic is getting them to recognize that they have a problem. In addition, Moss said it is crucial for functional alcoholics to focus on abstinence or return to less dangerous drinking levels.