The Original Drug Manual for Kids- for families that care about real drug-related issues is the ONLY educational resource for kids directed toward dealing with real problems such as abuse, addiction, over reliance and dependency. Its basic premise is quite simple and it is a manual designed not just for reading but also for doing and with the aid and cooperation of adults.
The manual tells about truths that many if not most kids already know or strongly suspect:
1] Authority figures including parents, teachers, employers, along with political and religious leaders routinely act in an abusive manner and support abusive policies towards others and lie or deliberately mislead to justify their behavior. Such policies include the War on Drugs and other counterproductive social and political policies.
2] People who sell drugs routinely lie and otherwise deliberately mislead consumers in order to sell their product. Drug war advocates do the very same to justify their abusive policy.
3] Anyone who acts in an abusive manner will lie to themselves and others to justify their behavior.
The manual gives basic information about drugs the types, uses, and means of administration and advises them on where to look, who to ask, and how to ask for reliable information about drugs BEFORE making decisions about using drugs. It also advises them to check on alternatives with trained professionals for all drug usage especially prescription drugs prescribed for long-term use.
It then advises them about minimizing abuse and stress in their life through emotional independence. This independence is gained through selflessness and doing the right thing- or righteousness. It then guides the reader along the paths of righteousness through the adult world that they will face advising them as to strategies for coping with the stress and abuse they will encounter in the adult world of family, work, relationships, along with social and political involvement.
The manual contains launchpad activities and questions in order to personalize the learning experience. Many of these activities and questions require the active cooperation and/or assistance of a trusted adult. Doing the launchpad activities will prove just as beneficial for the adults involved as the teen. As in all educational activities it works best when done with parental cooperation. And since the manual deals primarily with adult issues, parents are VERY relevant and can be most helpful.