Customer Reviews

From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking

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Having navigated through the rocks and landmines of parenting three boys through adolescence, I know that drinking, at least occasionally, can be a part of the journey. We never encouraged it, never "enabled" it, never denied it.
But we sure worried about it. My personal take is that teen drinking, especially among boys, is increasinig. This book is one that I'd recommend for nearly ANY parent or teen to read.
Told from the perspective of both the teen drinker and his mother, it is honest, open and direct. All the stages are discussed candidly, from early experimentation to full-blown blackouts, the shakes, detox, etc. Warning signs are spelled out.
Finally, the dangers of teen drinking are noted. Teens are at an increased risk of permanent brain damage from their drinking, according to some experts. This is something a lot of people don't know - or deny. Anyway, this is a wonderful book, very well-written and one I could not put down.

I think it would be safe to say that, for the majority of teens at least, drinking (and by this I mean consuming alcoholic beverages) is something that will come up sooner rather than later. Seen by many as a "right of passage," teens and alcohol are things that seem to go hand in hand. Although I know this isn't true for every teen--I myself never had a drop of alcohol until I was twenty-one, due to a strict upbringing--what I remember from my high school years, and what I see today among teens, shows that teen drinking is on the rise.

What many teens don't realize, and quite possibly don't even understand, is that due to their actual adolescence and the changes that brings, their bodies are actually at risk to suffer greater negative effects from alcohol. Sure, it can give you a buzz, and in some social circles there are even those who will say it makes you look cool. The problem is, that just like with the nicotine in cigarettes and the unhealthy substances in marijuana and other illegal drugs, that the changing bodies of teens can be harmed to a greater extent than those of full-grown adults.

FROM BINGE TO BLACKOUT is the story of Toren Volkmann and his mother, Chris. Toren was like any teen, one who experimented with alcohol in ways that didn't, at first, prove to be a problem. Unfortunately, this experimentation later led to full-blown blackouts and an eventual stay in a rehab center for alcohol addiction.

This is a book that is part autobiography, part scientific text, part guidebook. You'll find the warning signs of teen drinking, references to places that can help you both as a drinker and a family member affected by someone who is a drinker, and questions that can help you talk about alcohol dependency. This is the perfect book not just for parents, but also for teens who struggle with an alcohol problem--or even those who don't yet, but realize they could be on that path. This is a touching, heartwarming story that ended, thankfully, with recovery. Unfortunately, many more teens might not be as lucky as Toren Volkmann was, and those are the ones who really need to pick up a copy of FROM BINGE TO BLACKOUT.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

This book is an eye-opening account of the risks high school and college students take when they drink alcohol, but even more importantly, it helps the reader understand the power of alcoholism--the way it shapes and dominates behavior and doesn't go away. The chapters are written alternatively by Toren, the former binge drinker, and his mother, Chris. They both provide a great deal of research with each chapter so that the story is not just theirs alone. There are helpful boxes throughout the book summarizing information with a list of them at the end for easy reference. I plan to keep a copy on my desk so that if a student should remark about it, I can lend it. This book will save lives and keep families together.

I wish I had had this book when I was raising my teenage daughters. It doesn't preach and it certainly doesn't side step the lure that alcohol has for our society. Instead this book presents the honest, compelling journey that one family takes when alcoholism strikes its youngest child. I read this book over a two day period a couple of weeks ago, and haven't been able to stop thinking or talking about it since. I have given several copies as gifts and am anxious to talk with my friends and family members as they finish it. In fact, I think the very best thing about this book is the invitation to discuss a topic that is often complicated,misunferstood, and even taboo. Thank you Chris and Toren for courageously lifting the curtain on this very important health issue.

I finished reading this book a week and a half ago and haven't gotten it out of my mind since. It was absolutely captivating. I love the way it isn't "preachy" but has such raw honesty on both Toren and Chris's parts...and I'm grateful for all the resources listed for people looking for help. I can only imagine how many lives this outstanding work will touch. After seeing them on "The View" I originally bought two copies but went back to buy three more as gifts for friends I know will want to read it. I was interested in it from the "Mom's point of view" but as a Mom I love knowing how kids view their choices in life and what's really going on in their minds. This book tells it like it is.

I was motivated to purchase "From Binge to Blackout", as I have worked with Toren's dad, Don for the past 8 years. I so identified with the family as I also have 3 sons about the same age as the Volkmann boys, and, Like Toren, I was also a teen "partier" and experienced some of the same things he did. During the first read I read it from Toren's perspective. I am anxious to read a second time from a Mom's perspective and concentrate on the facts that Chris presents on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the adolescent. Very well written. A real page turner. Thanks Volkmann's for opening up and sharing such a personal problem with the world. It will make a difference.

I bought the book after hearing Toren and Chris on a talk show. I grew up as a nerd and never saw drinking or drugs with my group of friends. Now I have a teenager of my own. I am afraid that he and his friends are now drinking. This book gives me some insight into their thought process (or lack of it). It also provides help for parents. I found the resources very useful. I am going to suggest to our high school that the Torens come and speak to both our teens and their parents. It's a scary and dangerous time and I am grateful for any help!

I work in the alcohol and drug abuse prevention profession and found this book difficult to put down. The story is compelling and every family who has dealt with teenagers or young adults and/or addictions in their life will want to read this. Every family today deals with alcohol and drug abuse in some fashion; this book provides a wealth of great information and resources for parents or families struggling with these issues. I highly recommend it.

This book should be a part of every family's library, a gift from concerned grandparents, a required read for college freshmen, on every teacher's desk, a fun airplane read, a part of every treatment center and a mainstay in the armamentarium of those who counsel youth.

It was recommended to me by a friend. Although drinking and drugs have not been an issue for me and my family, I decided to take it with me on a trip. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. It uniquely tells the story from both the viewpoint of the kid and the mom in a fascinating style of writing--- most compelling.

And the book costs less than a 6-pack!!

As a recent college graduate who experienced first-hand the power and appeal of alcohol, and who has gone through his own struggles with alcohol, I would urge all high school and college drinkers to read this book. Toren tells it like it is: glamorous, cool, crazy, and ultimately unfulfilling. This book probably won't change your mind about drinking, but it will give you a glimpse of what lies ahead, perhaps years from now, if alcohol comes to consume your lives. Read it, and keep it in the back of your mind.