Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: Our Children and Drugs

This book has helped me tremendously. I first read this book when I joined an enthusiastic recovery program in St. Louis, Mo. It was the first thing that I read and was able to relate to. It gave me a really cool perspective on sobriety. My mom also got rocked by the book. All of this helped her and me, which has ultimately helped me to stay sober and have a lot of fun doing so.

I love this book. This book is about teenage drug abuse and recovery. First I would like to say, I believe it is the best book out there on the subject. It addresses some specific issues in a very direct way. I was not looking for a "candy coated" solution. I was looking for real answers. Something that I could physically do. Not all children "just say no" and what do you do if your says yes? This book helps explain solutions. I took from this book, and was able to apply to my life. The author has "been there done that" and comes from both the perspective of a parent and an addict. I found hope and inspiration from this book. I also found serenity after reading this book, which is something that I had not had in a long time. I know that this book gave me validation and the courage to apply the solutions. Which is a big deal. I hope that anyone who has a child with a drug or alcohol problem reads this and begins the recovery process.

Our family spent three years of an unbelievable nightmare while our daughter was using drugs. We tried every program available...residential treatment, in home, outpatient and group counseling, AA, NA meetings, psychiatrists and psychologists. We tried them all but nothing worked. She could get sober, but couldn't stay that way. The programs inspired by Bob Meehan (Pathway, Insight, Crossroads and Cornerstone) enlist what he calls "enthusiastic sobriety." It is a 12 step program.....for adolescents....and IT WORKS! It replaces the drug use with fun and a peer group of teens also working on getting and staying sober. This program saved our daughter's life, helped our son, and brought my husband and I closer together. This book will help you to understand what is going on, how to help yourself and your child. I think it should be recommended reading for anyone with a teenager at home and anyone who deals with teenagers on a daily basis.

I noticed that someone wrote a review here saying that this is book and the programs inspired by it are a cult. That is absolutely not true. This book, the author behind it and the programs he has inspired (Crossroads, etc) have a better than 80% success rate at getting our children off of drugs and alcohol. No other treatment program for teens even comes close. This book provides solid REAL information that I have been able to put into place with my son. The result? He is happier, more stable, no longer needing ANY drugs (either illegal or psychotropic as suggested by the public school system) to deal with life. This book and programs like Crossroads and Insights do nothing more than put the 12 step adult drug rehab programs into a context teenagers can understand and relate to. The most important aspect of this book is that it helps parents remember what it means to be a teenager. It then puts that memory into the context of todays society with it's rampant drug use, violence and family decay and gives clear advice we parents need to deal with these issues with our children. This is not a religion or even a religious book. It truly is a self-help book that is absolutely worth reading if you're trying to save your teenager and your sanity! I can't recommend it enough.

This book will open your eyes to the reality of what we face in terms of our children and chemical dependancy. Any parent who says not my child is kidding themselves ... all our children are at risk. Bob Meehan does not sugar coat the problem or his feelings on how to handle them. This book was recomended to me when my child was in rehab. I only wish I had read it sooner.