Finally, 'Talking Smack' is here!

For a number of years I have been encouraged to write a book for parents helping them navigate the issue of alcohol and drugs with their children. Our kids receive hundreds of messages about drugs and alcohol every year - at school, from their friends, through the media, and yes, from you. Having counseled hundreds of parents and spoken on this subject in countries around the world, I decided it was finally time to put some thoughts together in book form. Admittedly, this project took much longer than I had planned, and after four years, it was published two months ago. The title of the book is, 'Talking Smack. Who's Talking to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol if You're Not?'

I am not an author that has books jumping out of me every year, but this one has been born out of a passion to encourage parents and provide them with some simple tools that really work. I can't claim to own all of these ideas, as they are based on the successes and failures of thousands of parents. In fact, in this book, I attempt to address the most frequently asked questions parents have about the topic (these were gleaned from a survey of more than 15,000 parents).

I'm going to summarize some of the key points from my book in future blogs, and would love to receive your feedback. In fact, if you've got questions, including about a situation you might be facing, feel free to post it in the comments box, and I'll do my best to respond so that other parents can benefit from the dialog too.

'Talking Smack' is available through Amazon and most bookstores.