"When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she's ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she's been prescribed can help her get there. The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good. With a new circle of friends--fellow injured athletes, others with just time to...

Marijuana has been controversial for a long time. Some point out that marijuana is safer than other legal drugs and even has medical benefits for particular illnesses. Others worry about the drug's "gateway" potential and the potentially destructive effects of long-term use. As many U.S. states reconsider their pot legislation, this book provides the facts and dispels myths about that plant called marijuana. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and...

Alcoholism is one of the most common addictions affecting Americans. It also is an addiction that goes untreated in many cases because of the legality of the substance. This thorough look at alcohol, its rules, regulations and responsibilities, offers a bibliography for future research, and will engage readers to weigh the issues that unfold. Also included is a list of substance abuse related organizations and a detailed index enabling quick access...

Sometimes it seems that the sports pages are filled with the stories of superstar athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. But in fact, most users of these substances are just regular folks trying to improve their workouts or lift more weights at the gym. Unfortunately, these drugs are serious business and can be extremely dangerous. This book looks at the types of performance-enhancing drugs that exist and the problems that follow their use...

Nicotine-delivery vaping devices that were designed to help adults stop smoking are now being heavily used by teens, including many teens who have never smoked cigarettes. As a result of the widespread use of vaping devices, millions of teens have become addicted to nicotine, often without being aware of the health risks. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, teen vaping is now an epidemic. This insightful volume defines vaping, discusses how the...

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States while Statistics Canada reports that alcohol is responsible for the deaths of 8 percent of Canadians under the age of seventy. This concise guidebook gives younger readers the facts they need to make informed decisions about how alcohol use can affect one's life. The narrative examines alcohol's history, as well as its physical...

Coming of age in the drug culture of the 1960s and '70s led many young people to "turn on, tune in, and drop out"-experimenting with every available drug, chasing that ultimate high while looking for someone with whom they could share it. Thinking themselves invincible, they did not realize that they were flirting with danger-although they knew enough to stay below the radar of law enforcement while indulging in the pleasures offered in The Age of...

Humans have been using various drugs to alter their moods and thoughts for thousands of years. Why do we do it? And what makes a particular person vulnerable to addiction? What can be done to stop problems with drug use before they start? Causes of Drug Use explores all these questions, sorting fact from fiction when it comes to the roots of drug use and misuse. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in...

State governments are relaxing laws about marijuana use for both recreational and medicinal purposes. But just how harmless is this popular drug? This informative volume explores the effects, dangers, and possible benefits of marijuana. Despite what many believe, users can become addicted to marijuana. When young people ingest marijuana, it may negatively affect the way their brain develops. However, marijuana also helps patients with cancer, AIDS,...

Drinking and Drugs in My Family is a creative, child-friendly program designed for use with elementary school children, filled with illustrations and original exercises to foster healing, self-understanding, and optimal growth.