I’m not a parent, but if I had an adolescent in the house I would be racing out the door to buy Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs: What Your Kids Really Want and Need to Know about Alcohol and Drugs. In my early 30s, I thought I had my finger on the pulse, or at least near it, but I found myself continually fascinated--and at times aghast--at the issues and situations teenagers face. Drug educator Paul Dillon covers a lot of ground in this book, and he needs to, as the subject of alcohol and drugs is vast and unwieldy. His tone is frank, practical and informative and while the book is interspersed with advice, it also debunks myths and aims to set the reader straight. The book refers to a lot of cases Dillon has been involved in, which breaks up the facts and provides both positive and serious stories for the reader. Parents have to accept that their kids will experience drugs and alcohol-related incidents in their life and need to be equipped to know what to say and do. An eye-opening book and a must for every parent and teacher-- just don’t get caught reading it in front of them!

Katie Horner remembers being an awkward teenager and is assistant editor of Bookseller+Publisher

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