Clean: Overcoming Addiction (Now in Paperback)

By David Sheff

From the bestselling author of Beautiful Boy, David Sheff brings you Clean.

A myth-shattering look at drug abuse and addiction treatment, based on cutting-edge research
Addiction is a preventable, treatable disease, not a moral failing. As with other illnesses, the approaches most likely to work are based on science — not on faith, tradition, contrition, or wishful thinking. These facts are the foundation of Clean.

The existing addiction treatments, including Twelve Step programs and rehabs, have helped some, but they have failed to help many more. To discover why, David Sheff spent time with scores of scientists, doctors, counselors, and addicts and their families, and explored the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine. In Clean, he reveals how addiction really works, and how we can combat it.

Order on Amazon today.

Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy

By David Sheff

Addiction is a preventable, treatable disease, not a moral failing. As with other illnesses, the approaches most likely to work are based on science — not on faith, tradition, contrition, or wishful thinking.

These facts are the foundation of Clean, a myth-shattering look at drug abuse by the author of Beautiful Boy. Based on the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, Clean is a leap beyond the traditional approaches to prevention and treatment of addiction and the mental illnesses that usually accompany it.

The existing treatment system, including Twelve Step programs and rehabs, has helped some, but it has failed to help many more, and David Sheff explains why. He spent time with scores of scientists, doctors, counselors, and addicts and their families to learn how addiction works and what can effectively treat it.

Clean offers clear, cogent counsel for parents and others who want to prevent drug problems and for addicts and their loved ones no matter what stage of the illness they’re in. But it is also a book for all of us — a powerful rethinking of the greatest public health challenge of our time.

As a side note: Beautiful Boy is still one of my favorite books and one of the most recommended books I suggest to parents of struggling teens today.  I can't wait to read Clean.

Order on Amazon today! 

Sue Scheff 2008 Great Parenting Books and Websites

Well, 2008 is finally behind us! Many would say it was not the best year economically, with stress of finances, the frustrations of getting our kids/teens to comprehend the serious of it all. Personally I am very excited about 2009 - especially this fall, my second book will be released and it is going to be HOT! It is hush hush for now, but it will be explosive for sure!

Let's take a look at 2008 and some of the great parenting sites and books we have:

ADDitude Magazine - All about ADD/ADHD!
PE4Life - Teaching our Kids the Importance of Physical Education
Connect with Kids - Great Articles and DVD's for Parenting of all ages
Inhalant Abuse - Learn more about this growing problem among teens.
Love Our Children USA - Great information on keeping our kids safe today.
iKeepSafe - Promoting Parenting Education on Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace
Feingold Program - Fantastic information on alternative ways to treating ADD/ADHD
Education.com - It's all about kids of all ages!
Safe Teen Driving Club - Learn how to keep your teens safe on the road.
Next Generation Parenting - What's next?
OnTeensToday - Vanessa Van Petten has great insights on teens today.
Thinking Forward - A parent's guide to middle school years.
Break Free Beauty - Teen Body Image by Sarah Maria

Beautiful Boy by David Scheff
It All Started with Pop-Tarts by Lori Hanson
A Relentless Hope - Surviving the Storm of Teen Depression by Gary Nelson
You're Grounded by Vanessa Van Petten
Parent Survival Training - Dr. David Lustig
SOS - Students Guide for Saying NO to Cheating - by Lisa Medoff
SOS - Students Guide for Peer Pressure - by Lisa Medoff
Preventing Addiction by Dr. John Fleming
Thin Club - by Kim Tennant

There are many more - read through this Blog and you will see many helpful sites and books.

Oh, don't forget my own book release in July 2008 - Wit's End! Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out-Of-Control Teen published by Health Communications, Inc. Watch for fall 2009 as they release my second book!

Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines

By Nic Sheff

After reading Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through his Son's Addiction, I felt compelled to read Tweak, his son's story.

I just started it, and find it extremely difficult to read - not that I don't like it, it is so raw and painful. Since I personally have never tried these drugs (meth, heroin, etc) a lot of the lingo I am not understanding. But what is clear is the inner pain these people are suffering with. The irony of confusing it with happiness is the reason many parents should consider reading this book - after - reading Beautiful Boy.

Any parent that is even questioning their adolescents behavior, these are a must read - as painful as they may seem, it is ignorant to think it couldn't happen to you. Be an educated parent - an informed parent. Most importantly, don't be a parent in denial.

Sue Scheff: Beautiful Boy, A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction

By David Sheff

If you have a teen or adolescent that is at risk (using or experimenting with drugs, etc), this Memoir is a must read. It will captivate you and help you to understand that drug and substance abuse, as much as parents will make excuses for it, we need too realize that being in denial can actually only delay getting your child the help he needs. David Sheff is painfully honest, and does all he can - and I believe all parents have so much to learn from his experiences.

Type the book title in the side box for Amazon and get more information.

An added review from Author, Annie Fox. http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/03/31/for-parents-this-is-only-a-test/

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey with His Son's Meth Addiction by David Sheff

By David Sheff

From as early as grade school, the world seemed to be on Nic Sheff's string. Bright and athletic, he excelled in any setting and appeared destined for greatness.

Yet as childhood exuberance faded into teenage angst, the precocious boy found himself going down a much different path. Seduced by the illicit world of drugs and alcohol, he quickly found himself caught in the clutches of addiction. Beautiful Boy is Nic's story, but from the perspective of his father, David.

Achingly honest, it chronicles the betrayal, pain, and terrifying question marks that haunt the loved ones of an addict. Many respond to addiction with a painful oath of silence, but David Sheff opens up personal wounds to reinforce that it is a disease, and must be treated as such. Most importantly, his journey provides those in similar situations with a commodity that they can never lose: hope --Dave Callanan

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This is a book that parents that are struggling with a child today that is using drugs needs to read. David Sheff tells his first hand story with his son - between the tears, sadness and despair - there was hope.