My Parents Have a Drug Problem was written as a children's book to be relatable to younger children who can't yet understand the effects their parent's addiction has on their lives. The book includes teachable moments that help guide the conversation and ask questions that otherwise might be overlooked or forgotten. The My Parents Have a Drug Problem accompanying guide, A Guide to Talking to Children About Drug Addiction takes a closer look at addiction and gives some tips on talking to children about addiction and what their parents may be experiencing.

How parents can deal with drug abuse.

Books are like people, each one has its own story. My book is a story about teenagers with an addiction for drugs and the adverse effects these addictions have on their parents. My hope is that this book will present a picture of the many changes that can present themselves in the lives of young people and parents in their battle with mind-altering drugs. Many parents, unfortunately, are lost in the complexities of our everyday busy lives and their minds are clouded to the problems that are developing before them. Many of us are either oblivious to the problem of drugs or are too afraid to admit to ourselves that we do not know what to do if it happens in our families. Parents are sadly convinced that drug addiction can never happen to their children. My wife, Jane, and I had to face that sudden realization that drugs were destroying the life of our son. I believe that my book, when read in its entirety, will give you the guidance and insight to help all parents and their children to fight drug addiction and to render proper guidance to those already in the grip of mind-altering drugs. This book will help to illuminate those hidden changes that drugs can bring into the lives of our children and teenagers, and with it the effects it will have on those around them. I hope and pray that the sharing of this valuable information, along with my own experiences, will be a positive force in the thinking of our teenagers and their loving parents. My fellow parents, it is of the utmost importance that no matter what happens and how tough it may get, remember there is no other way but up. Wherever you are and whatever the problem, dont ever stop the fight against drug addiction. I am aware that in the hard-nosed world we live in, there are a multitude of self-help books, and numerous concepts and scientific theories on how to successfully face your problems and bring about changes in your life. But I have written my book for this reason: that parents can be hopeful in a time of adversity, suffering from a family drug addiction problem. Let faith and understanding change your life around. As parents, we often read about drugs and the effects they have upon our children. Invariably, our many conversations will drift to the topic of drug addiction and whether our children are in fact using drugs, and what we can do about it. I remember sitting with a group of parents discussing drugs. Although we all agreed that the rapid introduction of mind-altering substances was a critical problem to our children, not everyone was in agreement what we should and could do about this problem if it affects our family. Some parents told us our family is very content since all our children are young, this problem doesnt pertain to us at this time. Some parents sat back and told me that their teenage children have never taken drugs. They never had to discuss drugs with their children because they knew they would never touch them. A third group of parents were honest enough to admit that their teenage son was a drug addict for years and they didnt know it, and when they found out about it they didnt know what to do about it. Parents, do these statements sound familiar? Perhaps something you have heard before but shrugged it off as something you would never have to worry about. I realize that this is a sad scenario, but very true. Too many parents are not taking the time to talk to their children and establish a drug-free family when they are young and vulnerable. The result has been too many young people becoming drug addicts. Some of them could have been prevented or helped at a young age. That initial help must come from us as their parents. We must have a constant sense of awareness of this problem facing our children today. Remember, parents, we cannot change the nature of the drug addict or his addiction, but we can help

• Has drug or alcohol abuse in your family caused your child to become withdrawn or to act out? • Is addiction in a family member contributing to upset and stress in your child? • Do you want to help your child understand the problem and communicate about his/her feelings? • Do you want to help your child develop healthier coping strategies? I Can Be Me is a helping book for professionals and parents who want to help children of alcoholic parents. Written for children ages 4 to 12, it can be read by a child alone or worked through with a caring adult. Simple line drawings and text speak to children in a language they understand and are based on the real experiences of children with addicted parents. Written from the perspective of children whose parents are addicted to alcohol and various other drugs, this book helps children take off the masks that hide their true feelings and educates them about alcohol or drug abuse in the family. Entertaining drawings and simple text make this book easy to understand and invite children to add their own thoughts and feelings. Children often feel alone in homes where alcoholism or drug abuse is present. I Can Be Me helps children understand more about addiction and realize that they are not to blame for their parents’ problems. Through a series of creative exercises and activities children learn about healthy coping strategies and that they are not alone. Eight separate units make this book an ideal companion to counseling or support group sessions. Parents or counselors can also use a single section to address the unique concerns of an individual child.

"The purpose of this book is to explain addiction and to help families and friends to deal with it successfully. People who are struggling with addiction can also use this book to understand their situation and the resources that are available to help them. And people who are wondering if they might have an addiction can use it to get a better sense of the nature and depth of their potential problem. Part I explains the science behind addiction. Part II looks at the emotional side of the problem and how families are affected. Part III discusses many of the real-world legal and practical issues that addicts often face, and ways to keep them out of trouble. Part IV provides a detailed overview of treatment options. And Part V describes the recovery process and the most effective strategies to keep it going for the long term"--

Defies the myth that parents must sacrific themselves. Instead, shows them how to reclaim their power, balance, happiness...and lives. When kids turn to substance abuse, parents also become victims as they watch their children transform into irrational and antisocial individuals. This harrowing scenario finds parents buckling beneath the stress--often with catastrophoric consequences: Divorce, career upsets, breakdowns and worse. "Don't Let Your Kids Kill You" is a landmark work that dares focus on the plight of the confused, distressed parent and not the erring child. It sets aside any preconceived ideas that parents are to blame for what is essentially a full-blown global crisis. Drawing on interviews with parents who've survived the heartbreak of kids on drugs, combined with his own experience, Charles Rubin provides practical advice on how parents can help themselves and their families by first attending to their own needs. Liberation begins when you open this book.

The highly acclaimed comprehensive guide to getting your child through the formative pre-teen, teen, and college years drug-free—now completely revised and updated. Nearly every child will be offered drugs or alcohol before graduating high school, and excessive drinking is common at most colleges. But the good news is that a child who gets to age twenty-one without smoking, using illegal drugs, or abusing alcohol or prescription drugs is virtually certain never to do so. Drawing on more than two decades of research at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASAColumbia), founder Joseph A. Califano, Jr., presents a clear, common-sense guide to helping kids stay drug-free. All parents dream of a healthy, productive, and fulfilling future for their children; Califano shows which specific actions work and what parents can do to teach, protect, and empower their children to have the greatest chance of making that future come true. Teenagers who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are twice as likely never to try them, and this book provides the tools parents need to prepare their children for those crucial decision-making moments. In this revised and updated edition, Califano tackles some of the newest obstacles standing between our kids and a drug-free life—from social media sites and cell phone apps to the explosion in prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse and the increased dangers and addictive power of marijuana. He reveals what teens can’t or won’t tell their parents about their thoughts on drugs and alcohol, and combines the latest research with his discussions with thousands of parents and teens about the challenges that widespread access to drugs and alcohol present, and how parents can instill in their teens the will and skills to choose not to use. Califano’s insightful and lively guide is as readable as it is informative.