Product Description
Foreword by Cardwell C. Nuckols, Ph.D. Introduction by Reverend Edward A. Malloy, President Emeritus of Notre Dame, Board Member, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse ALCOHOL: The number one drug of choice for America's youth Throughout his college years, Toren Volkmann partied like there was no tomorrow. And like so many parents, his mother, Chris, overlooked Toren's growing alcohol problem. But when he graduated, Toren realized that he had become nothing more than a full-blown alcoholic with a college diploma. Written in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of both mother and son, this is a riveting, enlightening, and heartbreakingly true story of a family that was able to confront the fear, pain, and denial that threatened to destroy them - and survive the epidemic of teenage drinking that is putting America's future at risk. From Binge to Blackout forces us to look at the choices we are offering our youth: the marketing of alcohol; parents' benign acceptance of heavy youth drinking and ignorance of king-size doses; kids' genetic maps for alcohol dependence; the vulnerable adolescent brain; the labeling of malt liquor forties; and the general nonchalance of government, family and teens towards public drunkenness, liquored-up violence, and the consequences of our alcohol-saturated culture. From Binge to Blackout festers in the Petri dish of a teen's first drink, and then quickly morphs into a life-destroying rampage. Biting words, both informative and descriptive, identify and address the seductive allure of alcohol and a society chasing its glamour. Mom and son begin the struggle in separate worlds, but by the end of the book, they convince us that we need to work together in dealing with the nation's number one drug of choice: alcohol.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 20 reviews)

So helpful and inspiring! by Judy K. Chayka

5 Stars
March 25, 2008
This book should be read by every parent who has pre-teen/teen kids and should be made a mandatory book in every high school. It is a true eye opener and very insperational.

Great book for teens and parents by Sharon G. Millard (Columbus, NC)

5 Stars
October 18, 2007
I bought this book for myself and my 18 year old son to read before he left for college this fall. I read it first and then let him read it. The Volkmann family did a great job of communicating to the reader the dangers of teenage drinking. My son went to numerous parties during high school where alcohol was present. Our son told us about the drinking going on at these parties and I began to realize what a serious problem exists concerning teenage drinking. I hope that many parents will read this book and realize that teenage drinking is not something to be taken lightly. Many parents do not realize what can happen to their teens who take part in this dangerous activity. I encourage any parents of a teen to read this book and then make their teen read it as well and then discuss the book with your child.

PERSONAL TOUCH AND HOPE TO THIS EPIDEMIC DISEASE by G. Burstein (Illinois)

5 Stars
July 05, 2007
I found this to be extremly informative , seeing both sides of bing drinking and the perceptions of the family as well as the Alcoholic. I read this while my son (who also asked for help) was in rehab for his 21st birthday. He is now reading my copy. I found I could identfy with alot of the thoughts/situations as well as the codependent/alcoholic behaviors. As I work on my codependence and my son works on his sobriety I strongly encourage anyone with a teen/young adult afflicted with this disease to read this book.

Great resource by Kathy Hafner

5 Stars
May 14, 2007
As a high school counselor and child of an alcoholic I found this to be a great resource both personally and professionally. Your candid account of your journey for information and for recovery has already given me insights to help my students and their parents. Thank you both,

A Must Read!! by Brenda Weller (Petoskey, MI)

5 Stars
January 04, 2007
This book was very educational and informative. A MUST READ for anybody struggling with alcoholism or who has a loved one struggling with the disease. Very realistic and honest.

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