Adolescence
Adolescences are a relatively neglected population group in the Gulf, lacking specialized services and support catering to their health, life-skills development and transition to adult life, responsibilities and employment. Though student councils have been established, as well as a children’s parliament in the United Arab Emirates and a youth parliament in Bahrain, adolescents are largely passive players in schools and communities, lacking opportunities to express their opinions, assess their problems and propose and implement solutions. There are noted trends of young people adopting unhealthy and irresponsible lifestyles as illustrated by increasing rates of drug abuse, reckless driving and HIV/AIDS infection.
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