[lettie]

It is impossible to lump all teenagers into one dysfunctional group. Some teenagers are well behaved and polite while others are nothing short of behaviourally challenged little gits. There may be many reasons for teenage behaviour some of them hormonal and a normal part of growing up, other reasons social, poor parenting, education and disciplinary factors. Been looking into Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (formerly Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) The USA are spending a lot of time and money researching this disorder as it can cause learning difficulties, Dyspraxias, ADHD, antisocial behavior and personality disorders. Our local group 'FASawareUK' are fully supporting the USA research and have been calling for more research in this country. One of FASaware's speakers who lectured our group at Uni last week reckoned that a lot of teenage antisocial and violent behaviour was probably due to alcohol consumption by the mothers in pregnancy. It doesn't have to be a lot of alcohol, just one beer or glass of wine at a crucial stage of foetal development. This is what one New Zealand doctor had to say....
"Dr Kitson says a new term, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), has emerged to describe the full spectrum of effects of alcohol on foetal development. Characteristic problems include poor judgement and impulse control, an inability to foresee consequences and to learn from previous experience, inappropriate or immature behaviour and speech, language and other communication problems. Behavioural changes may also present as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."
Sounds like lots of teenagers I know.... Whether there is any credibility to the US research about this topic, I don't yet know. My mate is doing this as a project so I'll let you know what she comes up with (if you are interested) I myself will be looking at good old heroin detox and the effects of subutex on the detox process (can't wait!!!)