Types of Alcohol Addiction: The 5 Subtypes Science Says You Need to Know
Some studies found people with certain genes respond better to naltrexone. This classification predicts treatment response better than any other model. Researchers wanted a typology that could guide treatment. They drink for euphoria, not anxiety relief.
Why These Types Matter for Treatment
Suddenly, alcoholism wasn’t a character flaw—it was a medical condition with distinct subtypes. For over 150 years, researchers have tried to categorize different types of alcoholics. Young antisocial and chronic severe types show strongest genetic loading. Type 2 alcoholics are uninhibited and confident with their drinking. Learn about young adult, antisocial, functional, familial & chronic severe subtypes. Discover the 5 scientific types of alcoholism that predict treatment success.
Type 2: The Genetic Alcoholic
Type 2 alcoholics display high novelty seeking—they’re impulsive and exploratory. Type 1 alcoholics show high harm avoidance—they’re cautious and anxious. Type A alcoholics showed better response to sertraline than Type B. The same medication had opposite effects. Type 2 affects mainly sons of male alcoholics, is influenced only weakly by environment. Average age is 38, but they started drinking at 16.
- They could separate genetic from environmental factors.
- Type A alcoholics showed better response to sertraline than Type B. The same medication had opposite effects.
- Type 2 alcoholism occurs mainly in men.
- Discover the 5 scientific types of alcoholism that predict treatment success.
- The homeless person and the CEO might both have alcoholism—just different types.
Even with genetic risk, environment matters. Functional types may have less. Type 2 alcoholism has more emotional regulation difficulties than Type 1.
- If you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms or having thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate medical attention.
- Not all alcoholics are the same.
- Heavy drinking often decreases with adult responsibilities.
- Understanding which type you’re dealing with changes everything.
Binge drinking is normalized. Many are college students surrounded by a culture that promotes excessive drinking. They involved physical dependence and withdrawal. Common in wine-drinking cultures. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drinking stops. This is the classic AA alcoholic.
Brain Imaging
Different types show different brain patterns. Soon we might identify types through DNA. Heavy drinking often decreases with adult responsibilities. Daily drinking is normalized. The young antisocial type is predominantly male.
Treatment Implications by Type
Environmental factors play minimal role. Environment matters as much as genetics. Low socioeconomic status in adoptive families increased risk. Swedish researchers studying adoptees made a breakthrough. This group has the highest rates of emergency room visits and treatment seeking. Typically middle-aged, well-educated, with stable jobs and families.
Additional Benefits of Taking GLP-1 Medications For Reducing Alcohol Use This information is educational and should never replace professional medical advice. If you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms or having thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate medical attention. Identifying your type is important, but taking action matters more. No matter which type you are, help is available.
When Alcoholism Runs in Families
These are the “high-functioning” alcoholics who seem to have it all together. Average age of 26, but started drinking at 15. This broader view revealed five distinct subtypes that better represent reality. Previous studies focused only on hospitalized alcoholics. Not all alcoholics are the same. Explore all of the known benefits that are connected with taking GLP-1 drugs to take control of your alcohol use.
Young Antisocial Subtype (21%)
Understanding your type is just the first step toward finding treatment that works. The key is matching the right treatment to the right type at the right time. Generic “alcoholism” sounds hopeless. Understanding types breaks stereotypes.
They often struggle with whether alcoholism is “their fault” or “in their genes.” About 50% come from families with multigenerational alcoholism. Nearly half have a close family member who’s also alcoholic. This type often ends up in legal trouble before seeking treatment. They’re 21 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those without ASPD.
Type 2 alcoholism occurs mainly in men. They reach severe stages quicker. Women progress faster from first drink to dependence—called telescoping. Type 1 requires both genetic and environmental factors.
The homeless person and the CEO might both have alcoholism—just different types. Less than a third of people fit cleanly into Cloninger’s types. Delta alcoholism 5 types of alcoholics characteristics of each alcoholic type is most common in wine-drinking countries.
These differences appear before drinking starts. Different types respond to different medications. Babor’s team identified two types using 17 different characteristics. They could separate genetic from environmental factors. The rarest but most severe type.
Knowing your type isn’t just academic—it could be the key to finding treatment that actually works. Each has different risk factors. Each type responds differently to treatment. The contents of this website should not be used as medical advice in place of a licensed psychiatric clinician.
Over half have antisocial personality disorder. “Everyone drinks like this in college,” they think. They became dependent around age 20. Average age is almost 25 years old. In 2007, NIAAA researchers changed the game again.
The person drinks steadily throughout the day. Treatment that works for one type might fail completely for another. Understanding which type you’re dealing with changes everything. This isn’t just an observation—it’s a scientific fact that could revolutionize how we treat alcohol addiction. A 2 minute assessment to get a personalized mental health or alcohol recovery plan.