Personality genes could be an indicator.

• Position: Alcoholism - Brief Article

New evidence that human personalities may be genetically influenced could help scientists predict and prevent future alcoholics. Two alcoholic personality types--inhibited and impulsive--responded differently on biological tests. The findings give researchers hope that "certain blood and electroencephalogram [EEG] tests might be able to identify children who are more likely to become alcoholics," science writer Steven Stocker told the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md.

The inhibited type of alcoholic may be hypersensitive to stress, which can be caused by a deficiency of brain chemicals similar to morphine and heroin. Blood tests can determine this deficiency, and antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft, both...