A survey of 550 alcohol and drug users across the charity's treatment centres has revealed a 19-year gap between the time young people develop drinking problems and the age at which they seek help.
The peak age for young people to start drinking is 15, with the peak age for realisation of a drinking problem being 16, according to the study. However, most respondents did not seek help until the age of 35.
Addaction is calling on government ministers to address the subject in the Cabinet Office's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, due to be published on 12 March.
Peter Martin, chief executive of Addaction, said: "The issue of young people and binge drinking is waking the Government up because of social disorder issues."
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