Young People in the Swedish Social Welfare System

Abstract

One fruitful interdisciplinary approach to counteracting alcohol and drug abuse as well as acts of violence by teenagers comprises sequential application of social and natural sciences in full accordance with their respective underlying metatheories. Using this approach we have found that as a rule children's use of alcoholic beverages and/or violent acting out starts as attempts to behave as grown-ups in situations where they lack trustful contacts with their parents or other manifest adults, i.e. adults whoin their contacts with their own children as well as othersact as responsible adults and in every situation stand up for their opinions and act accordingly. This also means, however, that in specific situations they are able to change their rules in accordance with the circumstances. But the really responsible adult not only does this but can also mentally afford to do so in consultation with the child or adolescent concerned. This is the only way for children and adolescents to learn to know the adult world as a supporting and at the same time a controlling system. Family intervention is thus recommended as a result of this study. © 1995, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.