Since moving hundreds of miles to a new school, Daria has become increasingly dependent on her cell phone. Texts, Facebook, and phone calls are her only connection to her friends in Calgary, and Daria needs to know everything that is going on at home to feel connected to her old life. Her cell phone habit looks a lot like addiction to her mother and to her new friend Cleo. Daria dismisses the idea of technology addiction as foolish until her habit...

Drugs that are derived from (or mimic the effects of) the poppy are some of humanity's oldest and most powerful. In fact, opiate drugs were the main tools of doctors for centuries. Unfortunately, misuse of opiates has reached epidemic levels, destroying lives and tearing families apart. This book looks at the history and effects of opiates and introduces readers to treatments that can help turn users' lives around. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin...

Coming of age in the drug culture of the 1960s and '70s led many young people to "turn on, tune in, and drop out"-experimenting with every available drug, chasing that ultimate high while looking for someone with whom they could share it. Thinking themselves invincible, they did not realize that they were flirting with danger-although they knew enough to stay below the radar of law enforcement while indulging in the pleasures offered in The Age of...

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...

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...

Nicotine-delivery vaping devices that were designed to help adults stop smoking are now being heavily used by teens, including many teens who have never smoked cigarettes. As a result of the widespread use of vaping devices, millions of teens have become addicted to nicotine, often without being aware of the health risks. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, teen vaping is now an epidemic. This insightful volume defines vaping, discusses how the...

Marijuana has been controversial for a long time. Some point out that marijuana is safer than other legal drugs and even has medical benefits for particular illnesses. Others worry about the drug's "gateway" potential and the potentially destructive effects of long-term use. As many U.S. states reconsider their pot legislation, this book provides the facts and dispels myths about that plant called marijuana. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and...

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...

This book is about addictions of all kinds. Addictions to smartphones, sex, games, social media, gambling, money, but most of all to alcohol and drugs. The words 'addict' and 'addiction' are loaded with baggage. Not just in Australia, but the world over, addicts are considered to be sub-human, if not alien. This book aims to reclaim their dignity. It aims to rescue the word 'addiction' from its kidnappers and restore its humanity. It offers personal...

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...