Overview
In modern times, the words cocaine and crack are common in news stories about major drug busts, illegal drug trafficking, and deadly overdoses. Yet these drugs are made from the leaves of cocoa plants, which grow naturally in abundance in South America, and pure cocaine has been used as an energy booster and pain reliever for thousands of years. Cocaine and Crack examines how cocaine became an illegal drug after many years of legal use in commercial products, and explains why crack was formulated in the 1980s to make a cheaper and more powerful version of the addictive drug. Information about these drugs' effects on the body and mind and advice on how to overcome addiction to them are also included.Junior Drug Awareness helps young readers understand the truth about various drugs they have heard about, including some of the drugs most widely abused by preteens and teens. Each book explains the history of various drugs, their effects on the body, why people use them, and how people can stop using them. Pop culture references and news stories from around the world provide powerful examples to hold readers' interest.
Synopsis
In modern times, the words cocaine and crack are common in news stories about major drug busts, illegal drug trafficking, and deadly overdoses. Yet these drugs are made from the leaves of cocoa plants, which grow naturally in abundance in South America, and pure cocaine has been used as an energy booster and pain reliever for thousands of years. Cocaine and Crack examines how cocaine became an illegal drug after many years of legal use in commercial products, and explains why crack was formulated in the 1980s to make a cheaper and more powerful version of the addictive drug. Information about these drugs' effects on the body and mind and advice on how to overcome addiction to them are also included.
Junior Drug Awareness helps young readers understand the truth about various drugs they have heard about, including some of the drugs most widely abused by preteens and teens. Each book explains the history of various drugs, their effects on the body, why people use them, and how people can stop using them. Pop culture references and news stories from around the world provide powerful examples to hold readers' interest.
Children's Literature
Cocaine is a stimulant that is very dangerous. Cocaine gives increased energy and a decreased appetite, which may be used by some people for these reasons; however, cocaine can also increase heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. If used long-term, it can cause restlessness; nasal congestion and damage to the nose for those who snort it; heart, lung, and stomach diseases; and addiction. Women who are pregnant and use cocaine can have babies with learning disabilities, emotional problems, reduced intelligence, and birth defects and other abnormalities. Cocaine can also cause problems with the brain through symptoms such as rapid speech, paranoia, depression, hallucinations, mood swings, cravings for the drug, as well as the brain effects if the body goes through withdrawal. In spite of these dangers, people still use this drug. Famous actors Richard Pryor and Dennis Quaid were once addicted to cocaine but were able to get help to stop using the drug. On the other hand, twenty-three-year-old actor River Phoenix and twenty-two-year-old college basketball player Len Bias overdosed on cocaine and died. Even though this drug can lead to addiction and other dangerous effects, one can get help through drug rehabilitation centers and Cocaine Anonymous (CA). This enlightening book also lists Web sites and phone numbers available to those who need help. This informative book would be good to use for any class that discusses drugs and their awareness, and it is part of the "Junior Drug Awareness" series. Reviewer: Cathi I. White