DRUGS, ALCOHOL, SMOKING                         Another great book on drugs -- this one about drugs and kids, from our friends Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson, all Ph.D.s, and the authors of Buzzed, reviewed in these pages. While they are writing Buzzed as research scientists giving the "straight facts about drugs and alcohol," in Just Say Know they are writing as and to parents. This one is about how to teach your kids to love their brains -- I mean, their actual, anatomical brains: the piece of them that can get messed up by drugs. "Kids are naturally curious, and as teenagers they are in a lot of emotional pain," the authors write. "Like it or not, kids have access to drugs that, for a short while, can entertain them, wake them up, put them to sleep, or just ease the pain." This book will help you educate yourself so you can speak knowledgeably with children and teens about drugs. "If parents can begin to develop trust between themselves and their children early on, most of the battle is won," the authors contend. I highly approve. Get it at a discount at amazon.com, with an automatic contribution made to this web site. Scroll down for more books.... Saying No Is Not Enough, Helping Your Kids Make Wise Decisions about Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: A Guide for Parents of Children Ages 3 through 19, and Keep Your Kids Tobacco Free: Smart Strategies for Parents of Children Ages 3 through 19, both by Robert Schwebel, PhD, are two of the latest and, in this reviewer's judgment, best books for parents on talking to kids about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Schwebel does not underestimate teens' and pre-teens' desires to fit in with peers, strive toward independence, and explore their identity. This trait alone makes these books valuable guides for parents. Get them at a discount at amazon.com by clicking on either title or book cover above. [Scroll down for information about "Buzzed," another excellent book on drugs and alcohol, ] top of page      Kuhn, Cynthia, Ph.D., Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D., and Wilkie Wilson, Ph.D., Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs, from alcohol to ecstasy. New York: W W Norton, 1999. Paper.  Finally....an intelligent book on drugs written by people who know what they're talking about and are willing to share all of their information with all of us. The authors are researchers at the Duke University Medical Center who believe that mis-information transmitted to youth about the horrors of drug use--inaccurate statements designed only to scare--is worse than no information at all, especially for adolescents. If you've read Ms. Martin's and Walbridge's answers to parent questions at this site, or seen Ms.Martin's video, you know that adolescents are about finding out who they are, and one station along the way is their assertion that they are not you. Ergo, they often reject adults', especially parents', values and opinions. Anti-drug "propaganda" is therefore likely to be seen by kids for what it is--an effort to "scare them straight," i.e., to force values on them, and they are likely therefore to reject it. The authors think there's a better way--they call it, "Just say Know." They even include a section on how the brain is built and how it functions followed by a section on legal issues--what is likely to happen if you get picked up for possession of an illegal substance. Their mission is not to frighten, but to inform. The authors believe that if people, including youth, are given the most complete, up-to-date, and accurate findings of research on drugs, including their effects on the brain and body, people's subjective experiences while using them, and the positive or medical uses of some drugs, everyone will be in a much better position to make informed choices. Classes of drugs they cover are: alcohol (which can kill you from overdose), caffeine, enactogens (MDMA (Ecstasy), MDA, MDEA (Eve)), hallucinogens (LSD et al), herbal drugs (melatonin, ginseng, et al), inhalants, marijuana (in a class by itself), nicotine, opiates (opium etc.), sedatives (Xanax, etc.), steroids, and stimulants (cocaine et al). They begin with a quiz: "Test Your Drug Knowledge" (pp 23-26). We thought visitors to Parenting Adolescents might enjoy trying their hand, so we're giving an excerpt: The effects of smoking pot can last for two days. True or False? Which cup of coffee has more caffeine--the one brewed in the office coffee maker from grocery-bought beans or the expensive cup from the new gourmet coffee bar? What are the most dangerous drugs, and also the ones most often used by children under fourteen? Put these drugs in the order of addictiveness: marijuana, nicotine, heroin. What is the most popular illegal drug in America now? Does marijuana kill brain cells? Does alcohol? [Note: These are the actual questions, but they are numbered differently in the book.]   Click for answers......  Highly recommended. Click here to get Buzzed at amazon.com today! top of page