Are specific groups of people more likely to have alcohol problems?
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States–1 in every 13 adults–abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. People who start drinking at an early age–for example, at age 14 or younger–greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.
