What's a Parent to Do?: Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol

by Henry David Abraham

Book Overview

What's a Parent to Do? by Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry David Abraham, M.D. bridges the knowledge gap between parent and child with a three-pronged approach: helping parents prevent drug/alcohol... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882822500
• ISBN13: 9780882822501
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: New Horizon Press
• Length: 227 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Be A Heads-up Parent

Dr. Abraham's lifelong experience, his concern and his realistic, down-to-earth views regarding the substance abuse epidemic confronting our society are evident throughout this clearly and concisely written gem. His motivation is quite evident, namely to educate and to empower the reader. His style is straightforward. In brief: this is not a tome meant to impress the reader with the erudition of the author. Rather, it is a handbook, written to inform and, hopefully, to heal those suffering from and to prevent the spread of destructive behavior rampant in our country. In the "Forward," Dr. Abraham plainly informs the reader of the goals of the book. And from chapter to chapter, in a very readable style, the reader is exposed to a great deal of information and knowledge, without being overwhelmed or overburdened. One of the treats of this work is to experience such an expanse of knowledge and good sense delivered in such a "user friendly", personal manner. It is as though Dr. Abraham is sitting in your living room, chatting about the personal cost of and the public policies driving this modern plague of substance abuse. More importantly, from my perspective as a parent of a middle school child, I not only gained knowledge, but I gained parenting skills and insight reading Dr. Abraham's book. So, the next time I am asked or hear someone exasperate, "What's a parent to do?", I will answer: Read Dr. Abraham's book and become a "heads-up" parent.

Necessary Reading for Parents and Teachers

"Healthy kids are experience seekers," declares Dr. Henry Abraham, author of What's a Parent to Do?:Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol. An experienced psychiatrist and drug researcher, Dr.Abraham points out the difference between drug use, drug abuse and drug addiction. He gives straightforward advice to help the parent prevent drug abuse before it starts and how to proceed if it already has. Examples drawn from real life bring credibility to the advice offered, and huge motivation to follow it. This very readable book is a well-organized manual highly recommended for parents and others responsible for the well being of children, adolescents, and teenagers. Well-off suburban kids are more likely to abuse some substances than inner city kids, and this book presents all parents with risk levels and danger signs for each category of substance. There is much in this book that can be easily and effectively shared with young people. Some of the information presented in list or chart form is a prime candidate for refrigerator-posting to help stimulate discussion and remind kids of stark realities. One such chart is on page 184: the top 15 reasons to stay off drugs. While this book has no index, the table of contents is very clear and easily directs the reader to appropriate chapter. Each chapter ends with a concise summary of its most important points. This is a work that parents will want to revisit over time. After reading this excellent book, every parent will be much better informed about the entire range of substances subject to possible abuse, some of which their child will inevitably bump up against. This book equips the parent with the tools and techniques necessary to help their child avoid becoming a statistic in the all-too-nearby world of drug abuse. It is a hopeful and positive book, grounded in experience, expertise, and a genuine desire to help kids benefit from the most powerful tool at THEIR disposal: their parents. Part I identifies in five chapters what parents need to know to prevent kids from going down the slippery path of drugs and alcohol, BEFORE it happens. Part II devotes ten chapters to as many categories of potentially abusive substances: tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, acid, ecstasy, hypnosedatives (Valium and other anxiety-reducing drugs), anabolic steroids, psychostimulants (coke and speed), narcotics (opium, codeine, morphine, Demerol, heroin and others), and other miscellaneous substances (inhalants, PCP, GHB, designer drugs, and exotic plants). Each of these chapters is studded with facts about the specific substance, what studies have shown, what motivates kids to experiment, what the potential consequences are, and what a parent needs to do to confront the possibility of use, or abuse by their child. The four chapters in Part III give straightforward advice on what to do if your child is already using or abusing drugs, and the conclusion encourages parents to take the steps necessary to begin t

A no-nonsense self-help guide

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.

A Book to Empower Parents

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.

A book every parent should read.

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.