NCJ Number
203083
Date Published
2003
Length
321 pages
Annotation
Through the unique stories of three teenagers, this book explores why teenagers use drugs, what’s being done about it, why nothing seems to be working, and what can be done to solve the problem of teenage drug use.
Abstract
This book explores the causes and consequences of the Nation’s drug crisis with specific emphasis on the teenage drug epidemic. Prepared for every parent and professional who works with and cares about children, this book attempts to answer the questions of why teenagers use drugs, what happens to them when they use drugs, and what can be done about the problem of drug use. The book presents the stories of three real life teenagers and their relapses and rebounds in their struggle with drug abuse. The reader is introduced to the teenagers’ families and the therapists and drug treatment programs they became involved with. The first story is about a 17 year-old boy whose life revolved around selling, smoking, and snorting speed. The second involves a 15 year-old boy who was involved in marijuana, pills, and alcohol. The last story describes the life of a 16 year-old girl whose life revolved around being a runaway, a crack dealer, and a prostitute since the age of 12. The book is divided into four parts: (1) why do teenagers abuse drugs; (2) what is done for teenagers who do drugs; (3) does any of it work; and (4) what should be done to keep teenagers from abusing drugs? The book concludes with proposals and/or suggestions by the author that address the underlying causes of America’s drug epidemic and a resource list for parents.