From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking

by Chris Volkmann and Toren Volkmann

Book Overview

Throughout his college years, Toren Volkmann partied like there was no tomorrow, having what was supposed to be the time of his life. Like so many parents, his mother, Chris, overlooked Toren's growing alcohol problem. But when he graduated, Toren realized he'd become a full-blown alcoholic. And he was not alone. Considered a rite of passage, teenage drinking has skyrocketed to epidemic proportions, fostering a generation of young adults whose lives...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451219090
• ISBN13: 9780451219091
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

I think it would be safe to say that, for the majority of teens at least, drinking (and by this I mean consuming alcoholic beverages) is something that will come up sooner rather than later. Seen by many as a "right of passage," teens and alcohol are things that seem to go hand in hand. Although I know this isn't true for every teen--I myself never had a drop of alcohol until I was twenty-one, due to a strict upbringing--what I remember from my high school years, and what I see today among teens, shows that teen drinking is on the rise. What many teens don't realize, and quite possibly don't even understand, is that due to their actual adolescence and the changes that brings, their bodies are actually at risk to suffer greater negative effects from alcohol. Sure, it can give you a buzz, and in some social circles there are even those who will say it makes you look cool. The problem is, that just like with the nicotine in cigarettes and the unhealthy substances in marijuana and other illegal drugs, that the changing bodies of teens can be harmed to a greater extent than those of full-grown adults. FROM BINGE TO BLACKOUT is the story of Toren Volkmann and his mother, Chris. Toren was like any teen, one who experimented with alcohol in ways that didn't, at first, prove to be a problem. Unfortunately, this experimentation later led to full-blown blackouts and an eventual stay in a rehab center for alcohol addiction. This is a book that is part autobiography, part scientific text, part guidebook. You'll find the warning signs of teen drinking, references to places that can help you both as a drinker and a family member affected by someone who is a drinker, and questions that can help you talk about alcohol dependency. This is the perfect book not just for parents, but also for teens who struggle with an alcohol problem--or even those who don't yet, but realize they could be on that path. This is a touching, heartwarming story that ended, thankfully, with recovery. Unfortunately, many more teens might not be as lucky as Toren Volkmann was, and those are the ones who really need to pick up a copy of FROM BINGE TO BLACKOUT. Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Spells out the unique dangers of teen drinking

Having navigated through the rocks and landmines of parenting three boys through adolescence, I know that drinking, at least occasionally, can be a part of the journey. We never encouraged it, never "enabled" it, never denied it. But we sure worried about it. My personal take is that teen drinking, especially among boys, is increasinig. This book is one that I'd recommend for nearly ANY parent or teen to read. Told from the perspective of both the teen drinker and his mother, it is honest, open and direct. All the stages are discussed candidly, from early experimentation to full-blown blackouts, the shakes, detox, etc. Warning signs are spelled out. Finally, the dangers of teen drinking are noted. Teens are at an increased risk of permanent brain damage from their drinking, according to some experts. This is something a lot of people don't know - or deny. Anyway, this is a wonderful book, very well-written and one I could not put down.

This book will save lives

This book is an eye-opening account of the risks high school and college students take when they drink alcohol, but even more importantly, it helps the reader understand the power of alcoholism--the way it shapes and dominates behavior and doesn't go away. The chapters are written alternatively by Toren, the former binge drinker, and his mother, Chris. They both provide a great deal of research with each chapter so that the story is not just theirs alone. There are helpful boxes throughout the book summarizing information with a list of them at the end for easy reference. I plan to keep a copy on my desk so that if a student should remark about it, I can lend it. This book will save lives and keep families together.

Honest, Compelling, Educational

I wish I had had this book when I was raising my teenage daughters. It doesn't preach and it certainly doesn't side step the lure that alcohol has for our society. Instead this book presents the honest, compelling journey that one family takes when alcoholism strikes its youngest child. I read this book over a two day period a couple of weeks ago, and haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about it since. I have given several copies as gifts and am anxious to talk with my friends and family members as they finish it. In fact, I think the very best thing about this book is the invitation to discuss a topic that is often complicated,misunferstood, and even taboo. Thank you Chris and Toren for courageously lifting the curtain on this very important health issue.

A must-read for young drinkers and parents alike!

I finished reading this book a week and a half ago and haven't gotten it out of my mind since. It was absolutely captivating. I love the way it isn't "preachy" but has such raw honesty on both Toren and Chris's parts...and I'm grateful for all the resources listed for people looking for help. I can only imagine how many lives this outstanding work will touch. After seeing them on "The View" I originally bought two copies but went back to buy three more as gifts for friends I know will want to read it. I was interested in it from the "Mom's point of view" but as a Mom I love knowing how kids view their choices in life and what's really going on in their minds. This book tells it like it is.