Alcoholism can look different for everybody. There is no “typical” depiction of an alcoholic, which makes it difficult to realize if you or a loved one is becoming addicted to alcohol. It can be especially difficult to spot alcoholism in a young adult or teenager who might have just begun drinking. However, young adult alcoholics do exist, and Zelus Recovery is here to help them get the treatment that they need. Reach out to one of our healthcare professionals today to discuss our teen and family rehab program via 208.518.0797.
Categories of Alcoholism
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) researched the types of people who become alcoholics. Here, they found that there is no typical alcoholic, but rather five main alcohol subtypes. Each subtype has its own specific characteristics, behaviors, and risk factors. The key groups identified were the following:
- Young adult subtype
- Young antisocial subtype
- Functional subtype
- Intermediate familial subtype
- Chronic severe subtype
The young adult alcoholic subtype happens to be the largest group. However, they are also the least likely to seek help for their substance use disorder.
Alcoholism in Young Adults
Young adult alcoholics make up the majority of alcoholics in the United States. Generally, they do not abuse other substances and have lower rates of family alcoholism or mental illness. The young adult subgroup is made up of individuals under the age of 25. At this point, many people are at school, whether high school or higher education and are exposed to a higher amount of alcohol-related activities. Many young adults engage in dangerous drinking behavior such as binge drinking.
There are a number of reasons that young adults might engage with alcohol. Many young people consider alcohol to be less addicting than other addictive substances and, therefore, more innocent. Other young people might be curious about the effects of alcohol. For many, drinking begins as a fun activity with friends and becomes an addiction.
Many young people have been known to use alcohol to relieve stress. This is because young adults are under an enormous amount of pressure today. One study found that 1 in 3 young adults struggle with an anxiety disorder. There are many causes for this, such as:
- The pressure to succeed
- High expectations
- A world that feels threatening or scary
- Social media
- Peer pressure
- Financial responsibilities
- Academic responsibilities
There is less surveillance of young adults who are beginning their journey into adulthood. With so much newfound freedom, many young adults do not have their parents to tell them how to regulate their alcohol use.
Alcoholism in young adults can also result from wanting to fit into their surroundings, whether in school or a new living environment. Many young adults see alcohol as the key to fitting in.
There are a variety of other reasons that alcohol addiction is prevalent in young adults. A key contributor is drug and alcohol use in the media. Social media, TV, movies, and various other forms of media often portray young adulthood as a constant party. As a result, young adults see alcohol as a necessary part of their transition to adulthood. No matter how a young adult is introduced to alcohol, the repercussions of alcohol addiction can be severe and long-lasting.
Seek Treatment for Alcoholism in Young Adults at Zelus Recovery
Many of our healthcare professionals specialize in alcohol addiction treatment and therefore understand the complexity of alcohol addiction in young adults. Each young adult alcoholic is different and will respond to treatment differently. Alcohol abuse programs must be unique to fit the needs of each individual seeking treatment.
At our addiction treatment center in Meridian, Idaho, we at Zelus Recovery provide in-depth help specifically for adolescents and young adults. Zelus Recovery is here to help young adult alcoholics experience a full recovery.
We use a range of therapy programs such as:
- Relationship therapy
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical therapy
More and more young adults are seeking treatment for their alcoholism. There is no need to suffer any longer. Contact Zelus Recovery today at 208.518.0797 to begin your journey towards recovery.
