Straight Talk About Drugs and Alcohol (Straight Talk Series) - Hardcover

Grade 7 Up-- The tone is conversational, but this is not a casual chat. The sobering message is that although drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents has slightly declined in the '80s, increasingly serious dangers and problems remain. Ryan takes a position similar to that of Rhoda McFarland in Coping with Substance Abuse (Rosen, 1987). She places much of the blame for contemporary teenage drug problems on society, which condemns the use of some harmful substances, while condoning other equally hazardous ones. She addresses teens directly by pointing out the confusing signals about drugs that they may be receiving, both from their peer group and from adults who often set poor examples. Her discussion acknowledges the special pressures on teenagers, but charges them with the responsibility for taking control of their own lives, first by getting all of the facts and then by examining carefully their own personal motives and goals. Straight Talk . . . offers an abundance of such facts, plus numerous lists of behavioral responses to aid readers in determining the extent of a potential drug or alcohol problem. Chapters devoted to appropriate choices for troubled people and their families will reassure readers that substance abuse is widespread and that a great deal of help is available. An appendix offers a lengthy list of places to go for assistance. Ryan's presentation, which contains no fictionalizing, rambles in spots. Many YAs will probably find the McFarland book or Essie Lee's Breaking the Connection (Messner, 1988) more readable. However, the well-researched text and unique appendix recommend this book for all YA collections. --Sue A. Norkeliunas, Arlington Senior High School, LaGrangeville, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.