Alcohol and tobacco have long histories as socially acceptable drugs. And yet, both alcohol and tobacco can be exceedingly deadly. For instance, excessive drinking has been cited as a cause of death in 1 out of 10 adults under the age of 64. Understanding the potential risks of legal drugs is a challenge all teens will have to confront. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives.
