Of all the alcoholics out there more than half of them are young adults. Surprised? The people at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) were when they got the results of their study. Although they knew many young adults had problems with alcohol they didn't realize so many were alcohol dependent. As part of their research they identified the following 5 types of alcoholics:

• Young adult subtype: Average 24 yrs old, alcohol dependent by age 20. Characterized by binge drinking, this group is the largest group and accounts for 32% of alcoholics.
• Young antisocial subtype: Average 26 years old, alcohol dependent by age 18. More than half have an antisocial personality disorder, accounts for 21% of alcoholics.
• Functional subtype: Middle-aged working adults with stable relationships and higher incomes that generally drink every other day, often 5 or more drinks in a sitting. This group accounts for 19% of alcoholics.
• Intermediate familial subtype: Usually begin drinking around age 17 and are dependent in their 30s. More than half have close relatives who are alcoholics. This groups accounts for 19% of alcoholics.
• Chronic severe subtype: Mainly men, has high incidence of drug use, and accounts for only 9% of all alcoholics.

This information just goes to show that what you may have thought of as the "typical alcoholic" is not necessarily the case. Do you or someone you love fit any of these profiles? If you have any suspicions don't hesitate to speak with a health care professional.