BM> I've not been active here for a week or so.  Other more interesting
 BM> things to do.  Seems like you haven't changed your tune by as much
 BM> as a note.
You haven't found my comments on the article I downloaded from your reference 
in the National Institute of Mental Health.  Get back to me after you do.
As far as drugs are concerned, and their effects on humans, I refer you to 
"Alcohol Health & Research World" which has articles in it that go into such 
things as "Alcohol-Related Cognitive Impariments: An Overview of How 
Alcoholism May Affect the Workings of the Brain" or "Alcohol-Related Thiamine 
Deficiency: Impace on Cognitive and Memory Functioning, "Cognitive Impairment 
in Children of Alcoholics", etc., etc. etc.
They can be found by looking at the drug and alcohol side of nih. or niaaa.
I learned that Mark Keller has just died but that Marc Schuckit, M.D., the 
Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD School of Medicine and Director of the 
Alcohol Research Center in San Diego is still very much alive.  His lecture, 
"A Prospective Study of Genetic and Enviornmental Influences in Alcoholism: 
Working Toward Prevention" was given back in Bethesda as part of the National 
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
I would far rather read what he has to say on this supposed new disease we 
call ADD or ADHD than the authors you refer.  I know that Schuckit's 
background includes many studies on drug addicts and alcoholics and that he 
does have the ability to recognize one when he encounters it.
Cannot say the same for whoever put together the material you advocated I 
read.  Whenever drugs such as alcohol and cocaine are given as a cause of 
something, to leave out of all history taking and consideration is to 
invalidate all of the work done.
And that is exactly what I think of it.....invalid.  Most schools will not 
know the drug habits of the parents of the children they have in their care. 
They will not know if some mother used cocaine or drank during her pregnancy 
and then quit later on.
And we have not been given this information by DSHD when my daughter adopted 
the two children she has.  This is criminal.  To leave out such vital 
information to anyone caring for youngsters in this day and age cripples them 
in providing proper health care.
Anyone who is likely to come  into contact with genetic alcoholics and drug 
abusers should have to take enough courses in chemical dependency to be able 
to spot them or should never have a state license to do anything at all 
around them except sweep the floor and clean out toilets!
---
---------------