Substance Abuse

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

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

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.

Alice

COULD BE ANYONE.

Alice

COULD BE SOMEONE YOU KNOW.

Alice

USES DRUGS.

With over a million copies in print, Go Ask Alice has become a classic of our time. This powerful real-life diary of a teenager's struggle with the seductive -- often fatal -- world of drugs and addiction tells the truth about drugs in strong and authentic voice. Tough and uncompromising, honest and disturbing -- and even more poignant today -- Go Ask Alice is page-turning and provocative reading.

Alice COULD BE ANYONE. Alice COULD BE SOMEONE YOU KNOW. Alice USES DRUGS. With over a million copies in print, Go Ask Alice has become a classic of our time. This powerful real-life diary of a teenager's struggle with the seductive -- often fatal -- world of drugs and addiction tells the truth about drugs in strong and authentic voice. Tough and uncompromising, honest and disturbing -- and even more poignant today -- Go Ask Alice is page-turning and provocative reading.

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 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.

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

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!

Smoking (My Health)

The Night Olympic Team: Fighting to Keep Drugs Out of the Games

Fighter Planes (Pull Ahead Books)

Alcohol (Drugs: the Straight Facts)

Different Like Me: A Book for Teens Who Worry About Their Parent's Use of Alcohol/Drugs

Written specifically for teen, this book looks at life with parents who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs. The authors begin by explaining just what chemical dependence is and its effects. They make it clear that people who abuse alcohol or other drugs have the disease of chemical dependence; that it's not a teen's fault that his or her parens are sick; and that feelings of guilt, confusion, and fear are common in this situation. Practical suggestions, sound advice,and solid resources let teens know that they are not alone and point the way to feeling better about their families and themselves.

Nicotine (Drugs: the Straight Facts)