Chasing the High A Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Substance Abuse

Kyle Keegan was like many teenagers: eager to fit in at school, he experimented with alcohol and drugs. Soon, his abuse of these substances surpassed experimentation and turned into a ruthless addiction to heroin that nearly destroyed his life. Now an adult and in recovery, Keegan tells his remarkable story in Chasing the High. Starting with his early days of alcohol and drug use, Keegan charts his decline into a life of crime and homelessness as his need for heroin quickly overpowered all thoughts of family and friends, of right and wrong. In collaboration with science writer Beryl Lieff Benderly, Keegan uses these experiences to offer guidance and practical advice to other young people who may be struggling with substance abuse. In straightforward, easy-to-understand language, and drawing on the expertise of psychiatrist Howard Moss, Keegan discusses what is known about the neurobiology of addiction in young people, how to seek treatment, and how to get the most out of professional help. He also covers such topics as available therapies used to combat addiction, how to talk to family and friends about substance abuse, and how to navigate risky situations. The result is both an absorbing memoir and a useful resource that will help to ease the hopelessness and uncertainty caused by a substance abuse problem. Chasing the High will offer the wisdom of one young man who has been through it all, assuring adolescents that, with commitment and hard work, they too can succeed in beating a substance abuse problem. Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, Chasing the High offers hope to young people who are struggling with substance abuse, helping them to overcome its challenges and to go on to lead healthy, productive lives.

Howard B. Moss is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.