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At which ages does chronic alcohol dependence most often develop?
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alcoholism
Examining the effects of alcohol consumption.
For both men and women, the development of chronic alcohol dependence is most common between the ages of 25 and 50.1
While the frequency of alcohol-related problems is highest among men aged 18–30, this does not necessarily equate to the development of chronic dependence. Becoming a chronic alcoholic is a process that often takes several years, involving a loss of control over the initiation and cessation of drinking. Although many young people engage in heavy drinking, many do not progress to chronic alcoholism and return to a pattern of social, volitional drinking by age 30.1