NHS LibGuides Home: Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse

Recommended Fiction

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues
Call Number: FIC DEATH ROD
After Ellie dies of a drug overdose, her brother, her best friend, and her best friend's sister face painful secrets of their own when they try to uncover the truth about Ellie's death.
The Beast by Walter Dean Myers
Call Number: FIC REALSM MYE
A teenager from Harlem struggles to save his girlfriend from herself when she develops a drug problem while he is away at a Connecticut prep school.
Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Call Number: FIC PAIN VRE
Months after coming out of alcohol and drug rehab, high school student Nan wakes up on the subway the day after Halloween with short hair, a torn Halloween costume, the words "Help me" on her chest, and no idea how she got there.
Candy by Kevin Brooks
Call Number: FIC MYSTRY BRO
After falling in love with Candy, a drug addict, Joe becomes desperate as he tries to keep his dream of working as a musician alive while trying to save Candy from her self-destructive ways.
Crackback by John Coy
Call Number: FIC SPORTS COY
Miles barely recalls when football was fun after being sidelined by a new coach, constantly criticized by his father, and pressured by his best friend to take performance-enhancing drugs.
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Call Number: FIC PAIN HOP
Kristina Georgia Snow's life is turned upside-down, when she visits her absentee father, gets turned on to the drug "crank", becomes addicted, and is lead down a desperate path that threatens her mind, soul, and her life.
Dancing with Molly by Lena Horowitz
Call Number: FIC PAIN HOR
High school junior Becca is just a "band geek" until when her friends introduce her to molly, a form of ecstasy, and she finds herself with new friends--even a boyfriend--but soon learns there is a price to her newfound popularity.
The Death of Jayson Porter by Jaime Adoff
Call Number: FIC DEATH ADO
In the Florida projects, Jayson struggles with the harsh realities of his life, which include an abusive mother, a drug-addicted father, and not fitting in at his school, and which bring him to the brink of suicide.
DJ Rising by Love Maia
Call Number: FIC REALSM MAI
Sixteen-year-old Marley Diego-Dylan's career as "DJ Ice" is skyrocketing, but his mother's heroin addiction keeps dragging him back to earth.
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Call Number: FIC PAIN HOP
Written in free verse, explores how three teenagers try to cope with the consequences of their mother's addiction to crystal meth and its effects on their lives.
Glass by Ellen Hopkins
Call Number: FIC PAIN HOP
Kristina is determined to defeat her crystal-meth addiction in order to keep her newborn child, but when she is unable to manage her use of the drug and the pull becomes too strong, her greatest fears are quickly realized.
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Call Number: FIC PAIN GO
Based on the diary of a fifteen-year-old drug user chronicling her struggle to escape the pull of the drug world.
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Call Number: FIC PAIN MCG
When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher, and the painkillers she's been prescribed can help her get there. The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good. With new friends - Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue. But as the pressure heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control.
In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey
Call Number: FIC PAIN MCC
When teenagers Mia and Sophie take ecstasy at a party, Mia falls heavily into drug culture while Sophie is sexually assaulted and attempts to hide it from the authorities.
Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman
Call Number: FIC REALSM GOO
A fifteen-year-old boy from an abusive home desperately seeking his older brother's love and approval starts pushing drugs for him and suffers the consequences.
My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt
Call Number: FIC REALSM LEA
Sixteen-year-old Angel struggles to free herself from the trap of prostitution in which she is caugh
My Brother's Keeper by Patricia McCormick
Call Number: FIC REALSM MCC
Thirteen-year-old Toby, a prematurely gray-haired Pittsburgh Pirates fan and baseball card collector, tries to cope with his brother's drug use, his father's absence, and his mother dating Stanley the Food King.
The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves
Call Number: FIC PAIN ACE
Obsessed with the idea that he is not muscular enough and tired of being bullied, David, age seventeen, begins using steroids, endangering his relationships with family and friends.
Recovery Road by Blake Nelson
Call Number: FIC PAIN NEL
While she is in a rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol abuse, seventeen-year-old Maddie meets Stewart, who is also in treatment, and they begin a relationship, which they try to maintain after they both get out.
Rx by Tracy Lynn
Call Number: FIC PAIN LYN
Thyme Gilcrest uses a friend's Ritalin to help her get through crunch time at school and develops a full-blown addiction, becoming the ringleader for a prescription drug trade in her circle of overachieving friends.
That Was Then, This Is Now by S. E. Hinton
Call Number: FIC REALSM HIN
Sixteen-year-old Mark and Bryon have been like brothers since childhood, but now, as their involvement with girls, gangs, and drugs increases, their relationship seems to gradually disintegrate.
Tripping Back Blue by Kara Storti
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Call Number: FIC PAIN STO
"Finn is a gentle, tortured dealer and addict whose life is slipping away. When he finds an almost magical drug called Indigo, he thinks it will let him break free, but he's dead wrong"
What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler
Call Number: FIC REALSM HAR
The story of a town torn apart by the events surrounding the rape of drunk girl at a house party, from the perspective of the partygoers who witnessed it.
You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn
Call Number: FIC DEATH COH
In the wake of her cousin's suicide, overweight and introverted Miles experiences significant changes in her relationships with her mother and father, her best friend and his family, and her cousin's father.
Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
Call Number: FIC PAIN WOO
After losing her mother and grandmother during Hurricane Katrina, Laurel moves to another town and becomes a methamphetamine addict.
This Boy by Lauren Myracle
Call Number: FIC PAIN MYR
"Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the lady lobsters, and 'wins' at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he's given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe--oh god, please--he's beginning to catch the interest of smart, beautiful Natalia Gutierrez. Cruising through high school as a sauced-out, rap-loving beta lobster suits Paul fine, and if life ever gets him down? Smoke a little weed, crunch a few pills . . . it's all good. But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it's easy to get pulled under."

Recommended Nonfiction (Print)

The addiction solution : treating our dependence on opioids and other drugs by Lloyd Sederer
Call Number: 362.29 SED
Written with warmth, accessibility, and vast authority . . . a practical guide through the world of drug use and abuse and addiction treatment . . . brings together scientific and clinical knowledge, policy suggestions, and case studies to describe our current drug crisis and establish a clear path forward to recovery and health.
ADHD Nation : children, doctors, big pharma, and the making of an American epidemic by Alan Schwarz
Call Number: 618.92 SCH
"A groundbreaking and definitive account of the widespread misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--and its serious effects on children, adults, and society."
Adolescent Health and Wellness by Salem Press Editors; Paul Moglia (Editor)
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Call Number: REF 613 EBK (eBook)
Provides a comprehensive three-volume set that covers all aspects of teen health, including drugs and addictions, going online, sexual health, health myths, your mind and body, and much more.
American overdose : the opioid tragedy in three acts by Chris McGreal
Call Number: 362.29 MCG
Describes how the . . . opioid crisis was driven by greed, incompetence, and indifference and exposes the pharmaceutical industry's control of the healthcare system and how the FDA was duped into pushing painkillers.
Beneath the Surface by Kristi Hugstad; Nancy Guerra (Foreword by)
Call Number: 616.85 HUG
Depression and mental illness don’t discriminate. Even in the most picture-perfect life, confusion and turmoil are often lurking beneath the surface. In a world where anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are commonplace, life can sometimes feel impossible. Whether or not you or someone you love is suffering from any of these issues, it’s important to be able to recognize the warning signs of mental illness and know where to turn for help. This guide provides the information, encouragement, and guidance you need to help yourself or others experiencing: • Depression • Academic or parental pressures • Eating disorders • Bullying • Self-harm • PTSD • Peer pressure • Anxiety • Substance abuse • Technology addiction • Suicidal thoughts or actions.
Chasing the high : a firsthand account of one young person's experience with substance abuse by Kyle Keegan; Howard B. Moss; Beryl Lieff Benderly
Call Number: 616.86 KEE
A recovering heroin addict tells of how his early days of alcohol and drug use nearly destroyed his life and recounts his decline into a life of crime and homelessness and his successful recovery.
The courage to be yourself : true stories by teens about cliques, conflicts, and overcoming peer pressure by Educators for Social Responsibility Staff (Editor); Al Desetta (Editor)
Call Number: 305.23 COU
Twenty-six real teenagers describe their experiences with peer pressure, exclusion, teasing, bullying, and other forms of disrespect because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, weight, clothing, interests, refusal to do drugs, and other reasons and discuss their struggles to be true to themselves.
Dopesick : dealers, doctors, and the drug company that addicted America by Beth Macy
Call Number: 362.29 MAC
Chronicles America's more than twenty-year struggle with opioid addiction, from the introduction of OxyContin in 1996, through the spread of addiction in distressed communities in Central Appalachia, to the current national crisis.
Gateway Drugs by Noël Merino (Editor)
Call Number: 362.29 GAT
Offers expert opinions in a unique pro/con format, exposing readers to many sides of a debate which promotes issue awareness as well as critical thinking.
Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt With Family Addiction by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Call Number: GRAPHIC KRO
In graphic novel format author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka discusses growing up in a family grappling with addiction.
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos
Call Number: 365.6 GAN
The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer.
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Call Number: 362.29 FRE
By the time he entered a drug and alcohol treatment facility, James Frey had taken his addictions to near-deadly extremes. He had so thoroughly ravaged his body that the facilityís doctors were shocked he was still alive. The ensuing torments of detoxification and withdrawal, and the never-ending urge to use chemicals, are captured with vitality and directness.
The Opioid Epidemic : tracking a crisis by The New York Times Editorial (Editor)
Call Number: 362.29 OPI
A collection of articles on the opioid addiction crisis that examine causes and impact as well as responses by the government and public.
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
Call Number: 305.5 MOO
The author, a Rhodes scholar and veteran, analyzes the sociocultural factors that influenced him as well as another man of the same name and from the same neighborhood who was drawn into a life of drugs/crime and ended up serving life in prison, focusing on the influence of relatives, mentors, and social expectations.
Pill City : how two honor roll students foiled the Feds and built a drug empire by Kevin Deutsch
Call Number: 363.45 DEU
Criminal justice reporter Kevin Deutsch chronicles the rise of looters as they help steal $100 million worth of high-powered opiates in order to build a nationwide empire from scratch.
Teens Talk about Drugs and Alcohol by Jennifer Landau (Editor)
Call Number: 362.29 TEE
Compiles first-person accounts of young adults discussing their experiences with drugs and alcohol or as children of alcoholics and drug addicts.
Tweak by Nic Sheff
Call Number: 362.29 SHE
The author describes his childhood in California, his addiction to crystal meth and heroin at a young age, his relapse after eighteen months of sobriety, and his path to recovery.
We Can't Be Friends by Cyndy Etler
Call Number: 362.29 ETL
A follow-up to The Dead Inside details the author's turbulent readjustment to living at home and returning to high school after 16 months in a cultlike rehabilitation program for troubled teens.
Young Sober and Free by shelly Marshall; Robert J. Meyers
Call Number: 362.292 MAR
A collection of personal stories of teens overcoming addiction.

Resources in Connecticut

Connecticut Clearinghouse
The Connecticut Center for Prevention, Wellness and Recovery offers fact sheets, screening tools,self-help groups, data and more
CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) promotes and administers comprehensive, recovery-oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment throughout Connecticut.
The Governor's Prevention Partnership
Presents emerging research and resources to prevent substance abuse among youth in our communities.
Wheeler Clinic
Resources including a 24 hr crisis line, medication assisted treatment of addiction, and a philosophy that "Recovery from Addiction is Always Possible."

NHS eBook/Database Remote Access

Click the graphic below for the NHS database/eBook remote username/password.

(Must be logged into an NPS Chrome account.)

Recommended Nonfiction (eBooks)

Please Note: A login is required when accessing NHS eBooks from outside of school.

Addicted to Opioids by Jennifer Skancke
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book presents a realistic picture of addiction, the effects of addiction on people's lives, and how addiction can be overcome. America is facing an opioid epidemic; every day 130 people die from an opioid overdose.
Addiction : a problem of epidemic proportions by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book provides a down-to-earth look at all types of addiction, such as drinking, gambling, social media, shopping, and video games, and discusses its consequences and the challenges of recovery.
Addictions, Substance Abuse & Alcoholism by Paul Moglia
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Call Number: REF 362.29 EBK
Provides a two-volume set that contains 425 alphabetically arranged essays on a variety of topics, including substances of abuse, treatment and addiction overviews, organizations and foundations dedicated to treatment and prevention, physiological and psychological issues and behaviors, trends and statistics, and social contexts and concerns related to substance abuse and treatment such as advertising and media influence, aging, ethnicity, and children and substance abuse.
Adolescent Health Sourcebook
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Offers parents and teens basic information about growth and development during adolescence and related safety issues. Discusses the importance of routine medical care, adequate nutrition, physical activity, and sleep, as well as emotional, social, and mental health concerns. Describes common health problems that affect adolescents, including acne, allergies, asthma, diabetes, and infections. Addresses reproductive development and the health consequences of sexual decisions.
Alcohol Information for Teens, 5th Ed by Kevin Hayes (Series edited by)
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Call Number: 362.292 EBK
Provides information about alcohol and its effects on the body, brain, and behavior, including short-term consequences and long-term health risks to individual organs and mental well-being. It describes the risks and signs of emerging alcohol-related problems, offers information about treatments, and describes strategies to prevent teen alcohol abuse.
Conquering Diet Drug Abuse by Nicholas Faulkner; Kara Williams
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Call Number: 615.7 EBK
This book discusses how to recognize the symptoms of diet drug abuse, explains risk factors, and offers advice on how to live a truly healthy lifestyle.
The Dangers of Synthetic Drugs by Carla Mooney This book discusses the scope of the problem; effects of use and abuse; addiction; treatment and recovery; and prevention
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Call Number: 615.31 EBK
Dealing with Opioid Misuse by Derek Miller
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book presents readers with the latest information about the opioid crisis in the United States, as well as essential prevention and treatment strategies.
Defeating Addiction and Alcoholism by Susan Henneberg
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This useful resource teaches young adults what addiction is, who is at risk, how to identify the problem, and how to find help when things get out of hand.
Drug information for teens : health tips about the physical and mental effects of substance abuse : including information about alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, club drugs, hallucinogens, stimulants, opiates, steroids,
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
Provides facts about drug use, abuse, and addiction. It describes the physical and psychological effects of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, ecstasy, and many other drugs and chemicals that are often abused.
Drugs in Real Life: Meth by Sue Bradford Edwards
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book explores the effects of meth on the body, examines the laws and policies surrounding it, and discusses the road to recovery. A glossary of key words, an index, Infographics, informative sidebars, and reviewed sources for further research are also provided.
Everything You Need to Know about the Opioid Epidemic by Rajdeep Paulus
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This guide includes tips for coping with pain without resorting to opioids, and resources for those who are facing opioid addiction. Readers will also learn about the history of opioids and what led to the national opioid crisis.
Heroin and Its Dangers by Susan E. Hamen
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book looks at stories of heroin addiction, the history of the drug, its toll on the body, and what users can do for treatment.
Magill's Medical Guide by Anubhav Agarwal, medical editor A five-volume set that covers diseases, disorders, treatments, procedures, specialties, anatomy, biology, and issues in an A-Z format, with sidebars addressing recent developments in medicine and concise information boxes for all diseases and disorders.
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Call Number: REF 610 EBK
Marijuana and Its Dangers by Kari A. Cornell
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book looks at how marijuana use affects the brain, how addiction affects the life of the user and society, and what treatment options look like for those in need.
Meth by Sue Bradford Edwards
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book explores the effects of meth on the body, examines the laws and policies surrounding it, and discusses the road to recovery. A glossary of key words, an index, Infographics, informative sidebars, and reviewed sources for further research are also provided.
Methamphetamine and Its Dangers by Marty Erickson
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book examines the history of methamphetamines, the health risks of using the drug, the toll it takes on the lives of users, and what rehabilitation options are available.
Opioids and Their Dangers by Susan E. Hamen
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book examines what opioids are, what the risks of using them are, the physical damages the opioids do to the body, how addiction affects others, and what treatment for opioid dependence looks like.
Prescription and over-The-Counter Drugs by Valerie Bodden
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
Explores how prescription and over-the-counter drugs affect the body, the laws surrounding these drugs, and the impact of their abuse on society.
Understanding Addiction by Melissa Abramovitz
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Call Number: 362.29 EBK
This book addresses the personal and social impacts of drug addiction, including causes, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and personal struggles.

Recommended Databases

Current information on a number of issues. Has an excellent portal page on Drug Abuse. (Click on widget and select Browse Issues to view alphabetical list of topics)

Teen Health & Wellness This link opens in a new window
Teen Health and Wellness provides reliable content covering topics including diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide, bullying, green living, financial literacy, and more.

Use the menu on the left to select Drugs and Alcohol for many excellent resources on addiction and recovery including personal stories.

Salem Health This link opens in a new window
Salem Health eBooks offer reliable articles (complete with illustrations, sidebars, indexes, appendixes, key terms glossary, etc.). NHS owns the following Salem Health titles: Adolescent Health & Wellness, Genetics & Inherited Conditions, Nutrition, Psychology & Behavioral Health, Psychology & Mental Health, and Addictions, Substance Abuse, and Alcoholism.

Additional Resources

Alcohol Addiction Center
"Alcohol Addiction Center is a free, web-based resource helping to bring education and information to the world of alcohol addiction. It is our hope that with increased awareness, more and more people will get help with their alcohol problems."
Mental Health and Substance Abuse (USA.gov)
Find mental health services, including treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Get help for veterans and family members to deal with mental health issues.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Learn the facts on the most commonly abused drugs, emerging trends and alerts and much more.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH)
"The Science of Drug Use and Addiction: The Basics" article along with additional resources and references.
Recovery Resources (U.S. DEA)
Addiction recovery and other resources from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
SAMHSA National Helpline
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Substance Use Resources For Adolescents and Young Adults
From the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the Substance Use Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults are online resources aimed specifically at adolescents and young adults.

Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse

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