† Although the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, the information in this summary is from research on people 18 years of age and older. * In this summary, the term doctor refers to your health care professional, including your primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or physician assistant. †† Needing to drink more alcohol to feel the same effect, not being able to stop alcohol use, and/or having withdrawal symptoms. ** Alcohol use that interferes with your daily life, affects your relationships with others, or puts you in danger. They have now been combined into one disorder – alcohol use disorder – that can range from mild to severe.
Note: Alcohol abuse** and alcohol dependence †† were once considered separate disorders.
