Substance Abuse Books

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

Nic Sheff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 89 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Poorly written, a shame. 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I didn't finish this book. Not because I wasn't interested in the subject, but because the writing left me frustrated. I found the author's repetition of the phrase "or whatever..." to be very distracting. The book seemed to have been published after only one draft, and I didn't care about any person in it. Another "quirk" seemed to be a kind of laziness in the writing (though, as we get to know the author's tastes and heroes, it is understandable). Some examples of this are his constant use of the word "some" after such statements as 'it had begun to rain, or he had stopped crying or vomiting'. The same goes for "things". The word seemed to end every list of objects in the book. To me, these are small problems that could have been fixed by an editor. Perhaps, all involved were trying to portray the author as a scrappy Gen-Xer with no time on his hands to tune up his work, instead of keeping the reader at a distance by creating muddy prose. Fine, but after a hundred pages of this sort of thing, it wears thin. Mr. Sheff lost me, and therefore, I learned nothing from his tale.

Editorial Review:

Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It's a harrowing portrait -- but not one without hope.

Go Ask Alice

Anonymous

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1251 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not Impressed 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I read this book in college for a children's lit class. I was not impressed. It is a melodramatic look at the evils of drugs. It reads like a bad after school special, created to frighten teenagers and warn them never to experiment with drugs of any kind. Also, despite the lore following this novel, it was not written by a teenager. Read the novel if must, but there are definitely better books out there about drug usage.

Editorial Review:

The torture and hell of adolescence has rarely been captured as clearly as it is in this classic diary by an anonymous, addicted teen. Lonely, awkward, and under extreme pressure from her "perfect" parents, "Anonymous" swings madly between optimism and despair. When one of her new friends spikes her drink with LSD, this diarist begins a frightening journey into darkness. The drugs take the edge off her loneliness and self-hate, but they also turn her life into a nightmare of exalting highs and excruciating lows. Although there is still some question as to whether this diary is real or fictional, there is no question that it has made a profound impact on millions of readers during the more than 25 years it has been in print. Despite a few dated references to hippies and some expired slang, Go Ask Alice still offers a jolting chronicle of a teenager's life spinning out of control.

Chasing the High: A Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Substance Abuse (Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands' Adolescent Mental Health Initiative)

Kyle Keegan, Howard Moss

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Editorial Review:

Kyle Keegan was like many teenagers: eager to fit in at school, he experimented with alcohol and drugs. Soon, his abuse of these substances surpassed experimentation and became a ruthless addiction to heroin that nearly destroyed his life.
Now in recovery, Keegan tells his remarkable story in Chasing the High. Starting with the early days of alcohol and drug use, Keegan charts his decline into crime and homelessness as his need for heroin surpassed all thoughts of family and friends, of right and wrong. He then goes on to use these experiences to offer guidance and practical advice to other young people who may be struggling with substance abuse. In straightforward, easy-to-understand language and along with the psychiatric expertise of Howard Moss, MD, Keegan discusses what is known about the neurobiology of addiction in young people, how to seek treatment, and how to get the most out of professional help. He also covers such topics as therapies which are used to combat addiction, how to talk to families and friends about substance abuse, and how to navigate risky situations. Both an absorbing memoir and a useful resource for young people.
Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, Chasing the High offers hope to young people who are struggling with substance abuse, helping them to overcome its challenges and to go on to lead healthy, productive lives.

Fighter Planes (Pull Ahead Books)

Jeffrey Zuehlke

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A Teen's Guide To Living Drug Free

Bettie B. Youngs, Jennifer Leigh Youngs, Tina Moreno

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HCI Teens Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $1.29

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

This book is very fake 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 7 people found this review helpful.

After reading ms youngs book A teen's guide to living drug free, I would think that she would have named it a teens guide to being a drug-e, this book realy had good points but I dont think a book can do the work to keeping teens sober they need more drug education class's in schools.

Editorial Review:

The authors of the best-selling Taste Berries for Teens series guide teens through life's toughest challenges.

Dedicated to the fresh, new perspectives of today's teenagers (from twelve through twenty), this new volume shares advice, commentary and stories on dealing with one of the most prevalent challenges of adolescence: drugs and alcohol. But more and more, teens are using their courage and knowledge to meet this challenge head-on, choosing to live a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Divided into six units, each chapter opens with a story from a teen and concludes with "Questions to Think About," to allow the realistic and honest message to set in. Resources and referrals, as well as information on twelve-step programs, are also included.

The Addiction Monster and the Square Cat

Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Recovery -> Smoking

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Must read for elementary children!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Addiction Monster and the Square Cat is the first children's book by Letzgus McGinnis. It's geared toward children in the 5th grade and up and is told by the "sassy but lovable family cat."' It is a fictionalized version of the long struggle and ultimate death of the author's son from a multiple drug overdose. The story is heartwarming and explains about addiction to the younger set in terms that they can understand. The author even explains what "bingeing" and "alcoholism" is and she takes great pains to deliver a very sobering message to children without scaring them. She writes of other children too who had lofty goals and aspirations but never lived to realize them because drugs stole their future from them. This book should be required reading in all elementary schools because we have to teach them about drugs and addiction before they begin experimenting with same. I highly recommend this book, not only for the younger kids, but also for older kids and adults as well. It's the perfect book to read with your younger child also.

Editorial Review:

THE ADDICTION MONSTER AND THE SQUARE CAT informs children of the perils of drug abuse through a charming story told through the voice of Pumpkin, The Square Cat. Honest and real without being gruesome, SQUARE CAT can speak to juveniles from age 8-10 through the teenage years, and offer parents and teachers a launch-pad for discussion.

Buzz: A Graphic Reality Check for Teens Dealing With Drugs and Alcohol (FlipSwitch)

Marcus Brotherton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Real Deal

Life is tough. You’ve got questions. You’ve got choices…and the results are yours to live with. So go ahead—do a little investigating and discover the answers for yourself. The graphically captivating books in the FlipSwitch series are the real deal. They unashamedly tackle pressing issues that you face every day. After pinpointing God’s solution, they offer practical steps that will help you take your life in the right direction…without a doubt. Check ’em out:

HEAT : Sex. A huge reality check complete with stats and facts on who’s doing it and who’s paying for it (STD information).

BLUR : Who defines you? A startling glimpse into the reality of your self-image.

SPLIT : Divorce. Guidance as your own or your friends’ parents go ring-less.

BUZZ: Drugs and alcohol. What you need to know about beer, bongs, weed, tobacco, and other tempting substances.

Story Behind the Book

A team of youth pastors approached Multnomah with the need for a visual pivotal-issues series for teens—something that would enter into their world and confront the stuff they actually think, talk, and wonder about every day. These products called for a “back of the school bus” feel. Kids don’t get spoon-fed answers; they simply get enough cards on the table to create their own conversations. Now youth pastors everywhere can’t seem to hand out enough of them!

"N" is for NO SMOKING...please (Our Kidspak)

Eileen Tucker Cosby

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Editorial Review:

Our adorable cast of adopted babies, Our KidsPak, are back and saving children's lives! This hard cover children's book spreads the word about the dangers of smoking, and pleads with children not to start this nasty habit. Each page is delightfully illustrated in full color, and is easy to read and understand. Ideal for young children, parents will appreciate "N" is for NO SMOKING...please, as a support tool in their quest to discourage their children from smoking. "N" is for NO SMOKING...please, does an excellent job of tackling a negative topic in a positive format.

Smoking (My Health)

Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein, Laura Silverstein Nunn

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Childrens Press Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $3.11

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This Book Tells the Truth!!" 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

"The Author of this book clearly explains the exact information on what smoking can do to your body." The Pictures in the book even prove it."
A must read for any smoker or Non-Smoker!"

Drugs 101

Margaret O. Hyde

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