The age of 6 American writers who died from suicide or possible suicide was examined & compared with controls for the 70 deceased writers from a previous study done by Davis (1986). Results showed that both suicide & alcohol abuse are significantly associated with premature mortality in this sample of 70 American writers. Alcoholics died 14 years sooner than nonalcoholics, while the suicides died 20 years sooner than suicides. (1 ref.)