What's A Parent To Do?: Straight Talk on Drugs And Alcohol

Rating:
Summary: A Book to Empower Parents
Review: Drug use among children and teens is a leading national health concern. Henry David Abraham's text is an accessible "how-to-guide" for parents, which not only educates parents on the facts of drugs and alcohol, but more importantly provides them the tools necessary to be their own researchers of the ever changing drug culture. This text does not merely inform the parent on the current drug epidemic, but more importantly teaches parents on how to inform themselves.

Dr. Abraham first provides parents the framework for understanding the factors that often lead to substance abuse, and then provides a no-nonsense discussion on the substances commonly used by children. Drawing from his extensive clinical experience, the author illustrates the potential consequences of each drug with heartbreaking stories of children affected by drug-induced disorders. A very novel and powerful section of this text is an easy-to-follow guide on how to understand the significance of scientific studies: a parent learns that not all drug facts they encounter in the media are equal. The author explains how to interpret the implications of the various forms of reported scientific research - ranging from single-patient case stories to well designed research studies- allowing a parent to make their own educated judgments on the importance of the drug information they come across in the media.

For parents who feel powerless approaching their children on the topic of drugs, Dr. Abraham provides, in a very straight forward way, the important facts on the newer, exotic drugs children are taking. Additionally, Dr. Abraham examines the often overlooked, but serious consequences of hallucinogen use.

As the President of the National Organization on Drug-Induced Disorders, and also an administrator of a support forum for individuals with hallucinogen-induced disorders, I have heard hundreds of stories from teenagers and college students affected by rare and underreported drug-induced disorders caused by hallucinogens. This is the first text I feel comfortable recommending to parents of these individuals, as it is the first to accurately describe and address these disorders.


Rating:
Summary: A book every parent should read.
Review: This book is filled with comprehensive, up-to-date information about every possible harmful substance your child might come across - including tobacco, alcohol, and steroids - in language that's easy to understand, with case studies illustrating the type of damage caused by each drug. The author's compassion for his previous patients and their families is moving, and his tips for preventing substance abuse, as well as his advice on what to do if your child has already begun using drugs, is incredibly valuable. It's not a quick read, but in today's complicated world, the time parents spend reading this book would be time well spent.

Rating:
Summary: A no-nonsense self-help guide
Review: Written by a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, What's A Parent To Do? Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol is a no-nonsense self-help guide to the extremely difficult task of preventing and dealing with epidemic drug abuse among children. Drawing heavily from the author's thirty years of experience treating substance-abusing young people and their families, What's A Parent To Do? covers how to protect one's children from drugs ranging from tobacco, alcohol and marijuana to acid, anabolic steroids, narcotics, psychostimulants, and other unsavory body- or mood-altering chemicals. Written in plain, non-judgement terms that focus primarily on helping families stay clean and healthy, What's A Parent To Do? is an absolute "must-have" for any parent or caretaker in today's unfortunately drug-saturated culture.