How old is the youngest alcoholic you know?

[MAJOR METAL]

How old is the youngest alcoholic you know? For me, its a guy I know who is 27. Sadly, I think the issue of Alcoholism is under addressed in 20's age range. It seems to be simply shrugged off as just a phase in growing up.

[Atoz]

One of my college friends was an alcoholic at 21. My friends and I called his parents and put him on a plane home. After many years I was finally able to make contact with him about a year ago, but he died a few months later.

Another one of my friends became a serious alcoholic at about age 26 in 1990 or so after his wife left him. He's been avoiding everybody for years and has made it clear to us all that he doesn't want help.

[MAJOR METAL]

I am sorry for the loss of your friend.

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

I am sorry for the loss of your friend.

Thanks, Kevin. It was very sad. He really seemed to be doing well.

[curbowkid]

I agree. I'm almost 20 and last night I got absolutely trashed. Idk why I like it

[onosson]

probably 16, unfortunately.

[arbitrary]

too young

[jmattbassplaya]

I know a few guys between 19 and 23 who are borderline alcoholics. There's definitely a lot of arrogance in people around my age who think drinking is just something you do at this point in your life and that you can't/won't become an alcoholic from it.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by curbowkid

I agree. I'm almost 20 and last night I got absolutely trashed. Idk why I like it

Getting drunk ≠ Alcoholism. Two very different things.

Can't say I know any alcoholics myself. I hear that there are plenty at my school though.

[Martin89]

Much too young. When I was 13 one of my same aged friends was. His dad was really abusive, I think he figured if he was going to get beat he might've well been drunk during it. Other than that extreme case, I know plenty of sub-30 year-olds with all sorts of backgrounds. Not just getting drunk, but in a constant state of consumption to function.

[Strohsx]

Like above my friend became an alcoholic at thirteen after getting a chick pregnant now he's married without a job nor the will for one and living in her parents house though I;ve heard he dropped his drinking a bit he was up to a liter of vodka and molsen XXX a night, but I have seen him drink a 1/2 gallon in a night.

Technically speaking I'm an alcoholic what with my 3-4 days a week. Going to cut it down this year getting to old for it.

[sandmangeck]

Alcoholism is actually pretty hard to define. Technically by some standards if you drink more then 3 drinks more then twice a week your an alcoholic. I strongly believe that drug and alcohol abuse are symptoms. Also if you are an *******/do stupid things when intoxicated it's YOU, not the intoxicant. But back to the OP, youngest was probably 19.

[thumpbass1]

I've gone to a few AA meetings where there have been a few young folks in the 18-25 year old range here and there, who've hit the skids full throttle in terms of serious alcohol and drug addiction.

[john grey]

Originally Posted by sandmangeck

Alcoholism is actually pretty hard to define. Technically by some standards if you drink more then 3 drinks more then twice a week your an alcoholic. I strongly believe that drug and alcohol abuse are symptoms. Also if you are an *******/do stupid things when intoxicated it's YOU, not the intoxicant. But back to the OP, youngest was probably 19.

Where did you get your information?

Alcoholism has a definition in the DSM IV.
Consistent drinking which disrupts (or destroys) any major area of life integration (i.e. social, familial, economic, scholastic, physical/heath, legal, etc). It has NO borders on how many drinks or when an individual drinks. It is the resultant phenomenon that is indicative. The time element "consistent" means at which time alcohol is consumed; it may be weeks or whatever in between bouts of self-destructive behaviour.

[Munjibunga]

He was 17 thirty years ago.

[Jazz Ad]

He's 12, currently in rehab after trying to suicide himself.
All this because his mother is an idiot. Amongst other stupid actions, she used to slip vodka in his orange juice so he'd sleep while she was going out.

[JimB52]

In retrospect, I knew several teenage alcoholics. Some survived, some still drink, and some died. It being the 70s and all, drinking was not considered as serious an addiction as some other substances. Alcoholism was something old people had.

[sandmangeck]

Originally Posted by john grey

Where did you get your information?

Alcoholism has a definition in the DSM IV.
Consistent drinking which disrupts (or destroys) any major area of life integration (i.e. social, familial, economic, scholastic, physical/heath, legal, etc). It has NO borders on how many drinks or when an individual drinks. It is the resultant phenomenon that is indicative. The time element "consistent" means at which time alcohol is consumed; it may be weeks or whatever in between bouts of self-destructive behaviour.

People do this all the time with or without alcohol. Like I said. A symptom of the real issue. The person.

[sandmangeck]

So by the definition you go by, your not an alcoholic if you can hold everything toghether?

[runmikeyrun]

My exwife was an addict at age 14, got clean at 20. She was a disaster. Still is, even with 16 years clean. Like Sandman said for some people, drugs and alcohol aren't their only problem.