New study shows link between prenatal smoking and behavior problems in children and teens.
Are some kids just born bad? Not necessarily, but researchers have found links that contribute to the development of disruptive children and rebellious teens.
“That prenatal exposure to smoking combined with a specific genetic variant places children at greatest risk for behavioral problems,” according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Quoting a NIDA press release on March 4, 2009: “These findings illuminate how the interaction between genes and the environment can mold behavioral patterns very early in development,” says NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow. “This research provides a foundation for studies of the impact of these interactions on brain development during pregnancy.”
For both boys and girls, the more their mothers smoked during pregnancy, the higher the risk of disruptive behavior.
While the dangers of smoking during pregnancy have been made known for decades, pregnant women continue to smoke. “According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2006-2007 slightly more than 16 percent of pregnant women aged 15-44 (426,000) were current cigarette smokers,” NIDA says.
Tags: Behavior Problems, Child Development, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, Pregnancy, Pregnant, Prenatal Smoking, Risk for Behavior Problems, Smoking
