Drugs Explained: The Real Deal on Alcohol, Pot, Ecstasy, and More

by Pierre Mezinski, Melissa Daly, Francoise Jaud

Combining the diary of a girl tempted by drugs and sections of factual information, this is a frank look at the most prevalent drugs and the social situations in which young people might be invited to use them, and answers teens' and preteens' questions about what drugs really do, how to say no, and how to help a friend in trouble.Presents facts on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; what they are; what their effects are; and the serious problems that can result from their use, together with excerpts from a journal of a student as she deals with friends who use drugs.

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Pierre Mezinski est diplômé de lettres classiques, il est aussi musicien et il s’est occupé de jeunes en difficultés.

Reviews

[Shaquille]

Does this book make sense? This book makes sense because it's based off the daily life during different seasons of which it explains the lives of people who use drugs and how it effects the lives of people around someone who use drugs . I like how they explain drugs because they're arguments on drugs are clear and not questionable . They bring forward a point and they prove they're point and explain how drugs effect people lives even if u use drugs or people who are around you use drugs . Each character has a voice of their own and each explain . Each character has a opinion on drugs and their outlook may differ but both opinions are explain and clear . Is the proper point of view maintained in each scene? No because i think most or all of the chapter i read came from the point of view of a girl but she may ask for people opinions but they're opinion may not have been expressed fully . Is the writer telling too much ? No i do not think the writer is telling to much i actually think they're is more things they should say or express but since i have no finish reading my opinions is therefore invalid. Does the author intrude , or is she invisible so the story can tell itself? The author intrudes in a way so that she is telling the story and letting other people explain how they fell but mostly she is explaining how she see's it

[Jonathan Guallpa]

yes one thing leads to another, in the book it talks about different things from tobacco, to alcohol to marijuana and finally to the addiction it can lead to. In Phase two it talks about some affects that tobacco can cause , unlike weed tobacco doesn't have you feeling high , at most head spin for a few moments , it causes you to have a strange taste in your mouth , and you feel a little dizzy , once you get used to it you wont feel the spinning and dizziness. Tobacco slowly but relentless destroys your lungs and leads to things like Cancer , heart disease and emphysema eventually about one-third of young smokers will die of smoking related disease. Alcohol can actually provide some health benefits, but it can also be extremely dangerous , when its not abused it promotes sociability , one you have one drink to many and relaxed becomes tipsy , tipsy becomes out of it and from then it becomes out of control.

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update 2/272025.
I no longer have the book. It is the most memorable book of all the drug books I reviewed and so will remain as a favorite book.

Sep 9, 2011. School Library Journal gave me this to review when I was reviewing a lot of drug books for them. It's a series book, but the illustrations are colorful and funky. It's a work of art, really. It's on the book shelf by my art table. It has to be a really good book to get on that shelf. It's easy to make the basement shelves, but not next to the art table.

[Ruben Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does one thing lead to another? In this book it explains the harsh effects from drugs like beer, marijuana, prescription pills, and inhalants. It tells how the people that are your around can effect if you do drugs or not and if you'll end up trying them in a near future ,and the harsh effects long term on your health and the harm it's doing to your body and mind. Even the effects it has on your family and friends and your social group.

[Rover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good. I just wish they explained more about other drugs like Cocaine, and Heroin, its uses and other stuff. So i could understand it more. I don't even know why I bought this book in the first place but it is radical.

[Jason]

The plot information: The book informed you about doing certain drugs and about addiction. For example a guy tried heroin and got addicted to it. When in the first place he should have never tried it and he would have never got addicted.

[Hallie]

Very good! A lot of good facts; not a biased book, one that is interesting and makes you well informed.