News media report about teenagers turning to over-the-counter cold remedies and everyday household items to get high. It’s common knowledge that athletes use steroids to build muscle tone and enhance performance. Certainly the younger generation today knows all of this and much more. This resource aims to provide young adults with the basic facts and gritty details regarding drugs to help them make the decisions that are right for them.

Readily accessible and straightforward, it explains how each drug works and describes its short-term and long-term effects on the body—especially on young people still in the formative stages of physical, mental, and emotional development. While placing the drug within its historical and social context, the material here is above all practical. The focus is on helping readers recognize problems, find solutions, and make informed decisions. Never preachy, the information presented on each drug lets the facts speak for themselves.

FEATURES OF THIS RESOURCE:

• 15 drugs covered in depth:
  • Alcohol
  • Amphetamines
  • Antidepressants
  • Caffeine
  • Cocaine
  • Depressants
  • Ecstacy
  • Heroin
  • Inhalants
  • LSD
  • Marijuana
  • Nicotine
  • Over-the-Counter Drugs
  • Ritalin
  • Steroids
• Signs and symptoms of abuse
• First-person accounts
• Color photographs, charts, and diagrams
• Resources for Further Study
• Glossary