Young, Sober & Free: Experience, Strength, and Hope for Young Adults [Paperback]

Shelly Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2003 | ISBN-10: 1568389868 | ISBN-13: 978-1568389868 | Edition: Second Edition

Real teens tell the real story about getting sober and staying sober in this edgy, winning interpretation of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Shelly Marshall lets her teen contributors speak for themselves (and their words are not sugarcoated), while expertly augmenting the personal stories with discussions about time-honored Twelve Step recovery principles. Young, Sober, and Free, first published in 1978, aided the recovery of countless young addicts and alcoholics. This second edition, featuring four new stories from teens, is sure to inspire many more.

Key features and benefits

• features first-person stories of overcoming addiction by teens
• presents strategies for getting sober and staying sober
• excellent resource for teens, parents, and professionals

About the author-
Shelly Marshall has dedicated 33 years to working with young addicts. An acclaimed trainer, author, and researcher, she is recognized internationally as an expert in adolescent recovery and her research has been published in four international journals. She lives in Ruthville, Virginia.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shelly Marshall has dedicated 32 years to working with young addicts. Her books Day by Day and Young, Sober, & Free are recovery classics. Her research in adolescent recovery has been published in four international journals making her world-recognized in the addiction's field. In addition to teaching counselor's how to work with young people in recovery, Ms. Marshall is the Russian Charity NAN (No to Alcohol and Drug Addiction) Foundation's representative to the United Nations. She is currently working on a handbook for professionals who treat adolescent addiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden; Second Edition edition (April 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568389868
• ISBN-13: 978-1568389868
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #493,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

How did I begin writing about addiction recovery? Well, you see, the problem of addiction came at me from every conceivable angle. Not only was I a teenage addict, but Mom, my father, and brothers have all had their bouts with alcoholism, too. Even my sweet daughter suffered from the family "curse" when she fought her own battle with teenage drug abuse. Like I mention above in my "interests" section on Amazon, "Today we can claim over 200 years sobriety in our family."

Not surprisingly, I have dedicated thirty-plus years to working with people in the addictions. It runs in the family! My books Day By Day (approximately two million sold) and Young, Sober, & Free (approximately 250,000 sold and now in its second edition) are classics in the recovery field. Competing with those classics is my newest edition, the Pocket Sponsor.

When I was young and saving the world {grin}, I helped co-found several recovery centers, both the Hand of Hope (a halfway house for drug addicts in Denver) and the Cortez Community Mission (a detox center for Native Americans in the four corners area of Colorado). I also worked on developing one of the country's first young people's treatment programs at St. Lukes Hospital in Denver in the early 70's. By the 80's I had expanded my horizon's and became a deputy sheriff in Bonner County, Idaho (this led to my children's book, Rooty Toot Rambler). I have also served on several boards from recovery centers to the Council on Youth in Charles City County, Virginia.

In 1991 I began working in Russia for the NAN (No to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction) Foundation and earned a position as their NGO representative to the United Nations. I now have four books published in Russian and two in Polish and continue to travel to Europe whenever possible.

Yes, I've been on television and radio appearances in the United States and numerous other countries. I like sharing my opinions, research, and advice (even contrary advice) and am not afraid to share both poignant and amusing antidotes from my personal life and travels. I have to say that my family isn't always thrilled when I share my story and it includes them, but what the heck, we are only as sick as our secrets. With me around, my family stays pretty healthy! Currently, I host several self-help web sites and continue to offer support to the parents of drug abusing children. You can check them out at Day-By-Day.org, YouArATarget.com, WalkSoftlyandCarryaBigBook.com, SoberCoachingYourTeen.com, StopSpanking.com and the PocketSponsor.com.

My research has been published in five peer-reviewed, professional/scholarly journals, sort of giving me the edge as a world-recognized advocate and activist for young people in recovery. From Russia to New Zealand, I have traveled, giving training seminars and consulting internationally. My contributions have been, and continue to be, significant in the addictions field as an author, researcher, trainer and keynote speaker. As a leader in recovery from addiction, my work extends around the world. This has earned me one of trippiest accolades from another of my heroes (besides my Mom), Father Joe Martin, who said about me:

"She stands as a beacon of simplicity in a world of confusion. I recommend her work highly."