High-functioning alcoholic

A high-functioning alcoholic (HFA) is a person who maintains jobs and relationships while exhibiting alcoholism.[1][2][3]

Statistics from the Harvard School of Public Health indicated that 31 percent of college students show signs of alcohol abuse and 6 percent are dependent on alcohol. Doctors hope that the new definition will help identify severe cases of alcoholism early, rather than when the problem is fully developed.[4]

Many HFAs are not viewed as alcoholics by society because they do not fit the common alcoholic stereotype. Unlike the stereotypical alcoholic, HFAs have either succeeded or over-achieved throughout their lifetimes. This can lead to denial of alcoholism by the HFA, co-workers, family members, and friends. Functional alcoholics account for 19.5 percent of total U.S. alcoholics, with 50 percent also being smokers and 33 percent having a multigenerational family history of alcoholism.[5]

In popular culture

The protagonists of True Detective (season 1), Marty Hart and Rust Cohle, are HFAs.[6][7][8]

The protagonist in the Telugu language film Arjun Reddy starring Vijay Deverakonda is a HFA surgeon.

References

  1. ^ Benton, Sarah Allen (2009). Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic – Professional Views and Personal Insights. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-35280-5.
  2. ^ Brody, Jane (May 4, 2009). "High Functioning, but Still Alcoholics". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  3. ^ "Understanding High Functioning Alcoholics". Psychology Today.
  4. ^ Sanderson, Megan (May 22, 2012). "About 37 percent of college students could now be considered alcoholics". Daily Emerald. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  5. ^ National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (June 28, 2007). "Researchers Identify Alcoholic Subtypes" (Press release). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  6. ^ Semley, JOhn (March 7, 2014). "Let's Talk About the Drinking on True Detective". Esquire.
  7. ^ Vincent, Alice (Entertainment writer (5 March 2014). "True Detective: Matthew McConaughey wrote a 450-page deconstruction of Rust Cohle's life". The Telegraph.
  8. ^ Osgood, Kelsey (March 10, 2014). "True That". TheFix.

External links