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A sobriety expert has shared health details of the major red flags that could indicate that you or someone you know is an ‘intermediate alcoholic’. Plus, these symptoms are far more common than you might expect.
If you’re wondering what an ‘intermediate alcoholic’ is, well, you’re not alone. According to websites like Addiction Centre, it's a title given to a subsection of alcoholics - one that constitutes around 18.8% of the people with drinking dependency issues.
It's a subgroup that's typically defined by individuals who have other immediate family members who also battle with alcohol addiction. That said, this factor isn't always present in all 'Intermediate alcoholics'.
A deeper analysis of this description - full name 'Intermediate Familial Subtype' - reveals that those who fit into this category may also have an "antisocial personality", "generalised anxiety" or "bipolar" disorders. They might also smoke cigarettes, weed or use cocaine at a high rate.
A video published by the YouTube account Sobriety Made Simple delves deeper into this label while also revealing the red flag indicator that's way more common than you might think.
What are ‘Intermediate alcoholic’ red flags to look out for?
The major 'Intimidate alcoholic' warning signs that are worth looking out for are highlighted in a new Sobriety Made Simple video hosted by Dr. Timothy Martin.
Here, he explains that some individuals who fall into this category "tend to restrict their use or abuse of alcohol to specific situations or times." In doing so, Dr. Martin suggests that this method presents "the illusion that they are in control of their use."
Of course, those of us who only tend to drink during nights out or whilst attending live gigs or sporting events may fall into this category without even realising it.
Dr. Martin continues to explain some other more obvious 'Intermediate alcoholics' red flags. These include people who "isolate themselves" in order to "spend time drinking".
Click the video above and skip to the 3.50 mark to hear Martin’s detailed advice on this particular area of addiction.
Other surprising 'Intermediate Alcoholic' indicators
While choosing our moments to drink is one obvious red flag highlighted in the video above, Martin also shares some other eyebrow-raising insight.
Specifically, he touches on how ‘Intermediate Familial Alcoholics’ may not fit the bill visually when it comes to our preconceived notions of those struggling with alcohol abuse.
"They have a high employment rate" adds Martin, "60% are employed full time, 20% have college degrees" and "38% are married."
Other useful online resources help shed further light on this demographic. Alcohol.org explains that 66% of 'Intermediate Familial Alcoholics' are male and a high portion of them likely began drinking "in their teen years."
While the same resource readily admits that there's no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem, it does suggest some advice that people can follow if they're worried about their own alcohol intake.
Firstly, they should seek help from mental health professionals - specifically those who specialise in treating addictive behaviours.
If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out for help and contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to https://findtreatment.gov/