From a policy angle, the United States does not have a set, defined age as to what constitutes “youth,” but an official definition generally revolves around the notion of a “youth” constituting anyone under the age of twenty-five, from a theoretical standpoint at least. Within the United States, an individual is officially considered to be an adult at the age of eighteen.

Further, ages fourteen and under are considered early adolescents, while adolescents themselves are those between the ages of fourteen to eighteen, and early adulthood is considered ages eighteen to twenty-four. This distinction is important, as the United States has historically struggled to contextualize direct interventions that are particular for this age group.

Adolescents in the United States have special legal protections afforded to them surrounding a variety of angles including labor, education, alcohol consumption, healthcare, and so forth. The rights afforded to them are divided between federal, state, and local jurisdictions. Upon reaching the age of eighteen, a person is considered to be an adult and therefore loses many of these special considerations and protections.