The opioid drug crisis in America is on the rise and has become a serious public health issue. The epidemic concerning opioids such as heroin, has affected more than 4.6 million Americans ages 12 and over. This timely book exposes the consequences of heroin abuse describing the symptoms of addiction, including the physical, emotional, and social damage that can arise from abusing this highly-addictive drug. The facts about heroin abuse and teen use...

Consumerism is the term given to the modern preoccupation with the acquisition of consumer goods. Due to today's globalized economic systems, how and what you buy has repercussions that impact people all over the world. This book examines the fundamental questions surrounding the issue of consumerism today, including: When did consumerism begin? Why do businesses advertise? Are children affected by consumerism? And how does consumerism affect poorer...

Humans have been using various drugs to alter their moods and thoughts for thousands of years. Why do we do it? And what makes a particular person vulnerable to addiction? What can be done to stop problems with drug use before they start? Causes of Drug Use explores all these questions, sorting fact from fiction when it comes to the roots of drug use and misuse. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in...

Methamphetamine abuse is a worldwide problem. This invaluable resource, written in accessible and engaging language, covers vital subjects such as how meth affects the brain and body, the consequences of meth addiction, and how to get help. True stories about people struggling with using crystal meth or trying to get sober help readers put addiction in perspective, while sidebars about topics such as the history of methamphetamine use offer important...

Hallucinogens are drugs that have profound impacts on the users' perceptions of reality. Throughout history, some cultures have embraced hallucinogens as part of a path to spiritual enlightenment. Unfortunately, hallucinogens that are available on the streets can also have terrifying side effects. This book explores the history, effects, and risks of a wide variety of hallucinogenic drugs. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an...

Stimulants are drugs that speed up activity in the brain. It's a class of drugs that ranges from caffeine to ADHD medication to methamphetamine-and as those example suggest, the effects can range from mild to medically beneficial to potentially deadly. This book looks at the history and effects of stimulants both legal and illegal. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once...

What happens when a chemical vat suddenly goes on the fritz? A prolific spawning of impish mischief.

Evangeline Brown is a feisty, eleven year old who is ashamed of living with her widowed, alcoholic father in his run-down Florida motel that has the butt end of a pink Cadillac sticking out of the office wall. She is stubbornly independent, but when Farrell, a strange boy her age suddenly appears in town, she cautiously befriends him. Then the new teacher announces that she will make a home visit to every student in the class. Evangeline desperately...

According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States while Statistics Canada reports that alcohol is responsible for the deaths of 8 percent of Canadians under the age of seventy. This concise guidebook gives younger readers the facts they need to make informed decisions about how alcohol use can affect one's life. The narrative examines alcohol's history, as well as its physical...

Today, more than 7 million teens are involved in high school athletics. With that comes the desire to be the strongest or the fastest, and to use anabolic steroids to get there. Steroids are used to increase muscle mass and strength, but also cause a wide range of adverse side effects including acne, breast development in men, heart attacks and some cancers. Within this book, learn about the long and short-term effects of steroids which include physical...