From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-Carroll begins with a history of cocaine use and abuse, its different forms and their origins, and drug trafficking. Detailed accounts of cocaine's effects on feelings, moods, and the body's systems; specific drug interactions; addictiveness; the effects of overdose; prevention and education efforts; treatments; and familial risk factors are provided. Three discussion questions conclude each chapter. A final section provides various suggestions for community contacts and encouragement for exploration of treatment programs. Black-and-white charts and graphs are peppered throughout the text. Detailed chapter notes are provided. The presentation is direct and reads well, but is more appropriate for students doing research than for those looking for support. The book is a suitable companion to Arnold Washton and Donna Boundy's Cocaine and Crack (Enslow, 1989), which takes a more chatty approach and has an effective combination of information and advice, as well as to Gilda Berger's Crack, the New Drug Epidemic (Watts, 1987), which provides a good general discussion as well as an examination of DEA efforts to end the crack trade.
Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Celia A. Huffman, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 9^-12. Part of the Drug Library series, this provides a concise, easy-to-use look at cocaine, its forms, its patterns of use, and its short-and long-term effects. The first chapter is a little disjointed, but the material that follows is right on target, both for students doing reports and for those just interested in some solid information. Carroll does a nice job of pointing out "at risk" groups without being judgmental or laying blame and an equally good job of presenting the emotional and physical hazards of usage without preaching. The index is good; chapters can stand alone, making the book a useful source for short as well as detailed projects; and students needing visual aids will appreciate the simple, relevant graphs. The account's primary use will be for research; however, there is a long "Where to Go for Help" section, and the textual material is presented in such a way that it should make saying no easier for young adults needing support for that position. Jeanne Triner
