DEA Publications

Growing up Drug-Free: A Parent’s Guide to Prevention (2012) - DEA partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to revise this publication that was originally published in 1998. The 55-page booklet is organized in 6 major sections: 1) How This Book Will Help You? 2) What Substances Do Kids Use? 3) Why Do Kids Use Drugs? 4) How Do I Teach My Child About Drugs? 5) What If I Think My Child is Using Drugs? 6) Resources. Parents and caregivers will find this publication a user-friendly and valuable guide for what to do and how to communicate about the harmful effects of illicit drugs and alcohol to children from elementary through high school.    

Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine - English (2012) - Increasing numbers of teens are using prescription and over-the-counter medications to get high. Many parents don’t know enough about this problem, and many teens don’t understand the dangers. Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine, is a guide that helps parents understand this problem and identify the medications teens are abusing. An invaluable resource for parents, Prescription for Disaster presents prescription drug basics, includes information about commonly abused prescription drugs, lists steps parents can take to keep their teens drug free, and more.    

Drugs of Abuse (2011) - Drugs of Abuse delivers clear, scientific information about drugs in a factual, straightforward way. With the information in this guide, parents and caregivers can help their children make smart choices and avoid the consequences of drug abuse. This publication covers topics including the Controlled Substances Act and introduces drug classes including narcotics, stimulants, marijuana/cannabis, inhalants, steroids, and more. Drugs of Abuse also provides information about drugs of concern including Bath Salts.    

Just Think Twice – Teacher’s Guide (2011) - The Just Think Twice Teacher's Guide provides lesson plans for teachers to use with the DEA website for teens in grades 9-12, www.justthinktwice.com. The guide includes an introductory module for students and ten modules for each section of the website. Each module is broken down into the following sections: Introduction, Learning Objectives, Materials, Preparation, Discussion, Activities, and Assessment. The lessons encourage students to think critically about the messages they hear from their friends and the media about drugs. The information challenges the idea that drugs are harmless and teaches the harmful health and societal effects of drug abuse.    

Get It Straight - The Facts About Drugs Facilitator Guide (2011) - The Facilitator Guide for Get It Straight: The Facts About Drugs is to be used in conjunction with the Get It Straight publication to support the implementation of various teen activities. It includes the following components for each topic in the publication: overview, learning outcomes, time needed, key terms, advance preparation, facilitation notes, integrating other subject areas, and additional study. The publication can be used in various settings, (e.g., student health classes, afterschool programs, faith-based youth groups, and youth service programs) to provide accurate information on some of the most common drugs and the consequences of drug use.    

Get It Straight - The Facts About Drugs Student Guide (2011) - The Drug Enforcement Administration and Boys and Girls Clubs of America collaborated to write and produce a publication on drugs that targets middle school youth, entitled, Get It Straight: The Facts About Drugs - Student Guide. It is an informative, interactive program designed to expose common myths about drugs and help younger teens learn the truth about drugs. The Guide includes information on cough medicine, over- the-counter drugs, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, inhalants, marijuana, K2/spice, alcohol and tobacco, consequences of drug use, reasons why teens use drugs, peers, media and other influences, making good personal decisions, and drug prevention resources.    

Speaking Out (2010) - The booklet, Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization (2010), is designed to dispel the inaccuracies about drug legalization and present accurate information on legalization, drug policy and drug abuse. The booklet is divided in two main sections: Popular Myths About Drug Legalization and Summary of the Top 10 Facts on Legalization. Some of the topics include: a balanced approach of prevention, enforcement, and treatment; smoked marijuana; crime, violence, and drug use; and nonviolent drug users and treatment. The information is presented in a bulleted format to provide specific points on the most common myths and facts about drugs and drug abuse. Endnotes are located in the last chapter of the 65-page booklet.   

Drug Prevention 4 Teens (2008) - This 30-page booklet is organized in three parts: Today's Drug Problem, Drug Prevention and Awareness, and What You Can Do. The first part covers 13 different drugs with color graphics of each drug. The second part includes various drug prevention programs and prevention resources; and the third part provides helpful ideas on prevention projects and activities in which teens can be involved.