But so far, there hasn't been any prevention efforts on a national scale. A television awareness campaign for schoolkids could be effective especially if it focuses on family history as a risk factor. Psychiatrists who treat addiction agree. Instead of hiding their history, parents need to teach kids why even moderate drinking is not healthy for them. For this to work, though, parents have to be very open.
Psychiatrists say early intervention is also important.
Howell says more research is needed for early intervention. Our sample probably overrepresents men and underrepresents people born in the '60s and '70s. Also, the findings are based on self-reported information. The study was funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The prevalence of antisocial alcoholism may be increasing among men and women born after 1949 compared to older generations, according to a new study.