According to Joan Mathew Larson (Seven Weeks to Sobriety: The Proven Program to Fight Alcoholism Through Nutrition), there are six kinds of drinkers. Three with an alcoholic chemistry, two with nonalcoholic chemistry, and one that looks alcoholic but isn’t.
Below are the 4 most dangerous, with links to articles that explain each of the four.
II ADH/THIQ drinkers are born with an alcohol dehydrogenase liver enzyme (ADH) that enables a body to metabolize large amounts of alcohol without negative effects. The enzyme triggers the brain to make an endorphin-like tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) from alcohol, which results in euphoria. Biochemically, euphoria with no negative consequences makes for a slippery slope into addiction. https://jeffjones.substack.com/p/did-you-know-why-some-people-can
Allergic/Addicted drinkers will generally recognize a first drinking experience that made them sick (the body couldn’t tolerate alcohol). Continued drinking forged a pattern - at first there’s a feeling of being high then body reacts by producing its own addictive endorphins. Biochemically, as the alcohol is leaving the system the body needs more alcohol to stave off withdrawal symptoms. https://jeffjones.substack.com/p/do-you-know-the-signs-of-an-allergicalcoholic
Omega 6 EFA deficient drinkers will recognize this pattern first when considering ancestors with a history of depression and relieving it with alcohol. Their own first drinking experience may have made them sick but it took away any symptoms of depression. Biochemically, alcohol initially works to provide temporary relief from depression - an initial positive association with alcohol. Problem is the next morning, the depression is worse.
https://jeffjones.substack.com/p/do-you-know-these-4-clues-to-the
Nonalcoholic hypoglycemic chemistry may mistakenly been seen as alcoholic, but hypoglycemia is driving this inherited pattern to abnormal glucose metabolism. Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when the sugar levels in your blood are too low. A little alcohol may raise blood sugar levels resulting in a quick sense of wellbeing followed by light-headedness, confusion, grogginess, depression and irritability (all signs of hypoglycemia). If you are a woman, you may drink more alcohol premenstrually. https://jeffjones.substack.com/p/do-you-know-the-alcohol-biotype-that
Environments that enable addiction will facilitate each of these biotypes becoming alcoholism.
Biotype are determined through seven domains:
Physiological response
First drinking experience
Hangovers
Patterns of behavior
Heredity
Personality effects
Tolerance
On June 22nd, I’ll be doing a webinar to go deeper into the four most problematic biotypes, and how knowing your biotype informs your best detox and biochemical repair. To make your time in the webinar most useful, I’m suggesting you take the Alcohol Biotype survey and score it. You can do it at the links below.
Alcohol Biotype Survey: https://thefamilyrecoverysolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Biotype-Survey-2.pdf
Scoring: https://thefamilyrecoverysolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Biotype-Scoring-1.pdf
You can signup for the webinar here.
https://thefamilyrecoverysolution.com/six-biotype-responses-to-alcohol
Individuals: Understanding one’s biotype is key to getting sober and staying sober - a strong complement to other recovery skills. You finally understand your body’s relationship with alcohol through the seven domains, which empowers you to focus on what’s driving the problem and where to focus your energy for change.
Plus, there’s no shame in an inherited genetic imbalance.
Families: Fill out the survey as if you were your loved one. You’ll get info that will help you understand their biochemical condition. Knowing their physical imbalance helps you to set realistic expectations for how best to interact with them.
The above reference to a webinar on June 22nd is referring to 2017. Today (3/10/24), I'm completing Session 6 of the Healing Arc Education portion of a Family Addiction Engagement Training (FAET) for families to engage their loved one in a healing journey. Presently, my goal is to go back and record each of the 6 slide presentations and make all information available as a Do-It-Yourself course. Please email me at sjeffjones@me.com if you have any questions.