Dirty : A Search for Answers Inside America's Teenage Drug Epidemic

Venturing into uncharted territory, mother and award-winning journalist Meredith Maran takes us inside teenagers' hearts, minds, and central nervous systems to explore the causes and consequences of our nation's drug crisis. In these pages we get to know the kids, the parents, the therapists, and the drug treatment programs at their best and worst. We're face-to-face with seventeen-year-old Mike, whose life revolves around selling, smoking, and snorting speed; fifteen-year-old Tristan — the boy next door — who can't get enough pot, pills, or vodka; and sixteen-year-old Zalika, a runaway, crack dealer, and prostitute since the age of twelve. Combining powerful on-the-street reporting and groundbreaking research, Dirty is essential reading for every parent and professional who works with or cares about children or teenagers. Publishers Weekly Maran (Class Dismissed) was herself the mother of a teenage drug abuser; she learned the hard way that there are no easy answers to the questions "Why do kids use drugs?" and "How can we help them?" "Nearly two-thirds of the teenagers in America today do drugs before they finish high school-one-third of them by the time they're in eighth grade," and none of the current programs, from DARE to detention camps to jails, have worked. Maran studies three leading treatment approaches by following three particular teenagers in care. The Center Point adolescent program separates kids from their families and friends to break bad habits and focus on behavior modification. The Phoenix Academy program keeps kids connected with their community and uses small classes, individual mentoring and AA/12-step participation to target addiction. Drug Court combines monitoring by court professionals with an after-school program of group therapy sessions, sports and drug testing. Unfortunately, the bottom line with youth programs-and these are better than most-is that they're hard and kids don't want to do them, so they run away, and there's no enforcement of participation. Indeed, none of Maran's subjects stayed with their programs-they all lapsed. Still, Maran learned enough to make some recommendations for improving teen care, outlined at the book's end. This is an insightful, compassionate look at the mistakes we are making with our teenagers. Agent, Amy Rennert. (On sale Sept. 23) Forecast: Maran's book is important and timely. With the right publicity, it could get good media coverage and attract the attention of high school counselors and social workers. Harper SF has assembled an impressive press kit with suggestions for parents seeking help for their children; the book has garnered advance praise from Anne Lamott, Jesse Jackson and others. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. Title Page......Page 3 Dedication Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Prologue......Page 7 Introduction......Page 11 Part One: Getting High: Why Do Kids Do Drugs?......Page 23 Mike: Running on Empty......Page 25 Tristan: Why Are We Here?......Page 42 Zalika: Slinging Rock, Turning Tricks......Page 59 Part Two: Getting Clean: What Do We Do for Kids Who Do Drugs?......Page 77 Mike: Good Morning, Family......Page 79 Tristan: Sobriety High......Page 106 Zalika: Juvenile Drug Court......Page 133 Part Three: Testing Dirty: Does Any of It Work?......Page 161 Mike: Good-bye, Family......Page 163 Tristan: High on Sobriety......Page 187 Zalika: Moving Violations......Page 209 Part Four: Getting Out: How Can We Get Kids Off Drugs?......Page 231 Mike: Self-Surrender......Page 233 Tristan: High Again......Page 252 Zalika: On the Run Again......Page 269 Afterword......Page 285 Resources for Parents......Page 297 Notes......Page 307 Acknowledgments......Page 315 About the Author......Page 318 Praise......Page 319 Credits......Page 321 Copyright Notice......Page 322 About the Publisher......Page 323 This is a book about why teenagers use drugs, what we're doing about it, why nothing seems to be working, and what we might do to solve-or at least look honestly at-the problem.