From Binge to Blackout : A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking

Throughout his college years, Toren Volkmann partied like there was no tomorrow, having what was supposed to be the time of his life. Like so many parents, his mother, Chris, overlooked Torenrs"s growing alcohol problem. But when he graduated, Toren realized hers"d become a full-blown alcoholic. And he was not alone. Considered a rite of passage, teenage drinking has skyrocketed to epidemic proportions, fostering a generation of young adults whose lives are already beginning to come apart under the strain. This book, written from the viewpoints of both mother and son, is a riveting, enlightening, and heartbreakingly true story of a family that was able to confront the fear, pain, and denial that threatened to destroy them-and survive the epidemic of teenage drinking.

Chris Volkmann is a former classroom teacher and recipient of the 2001 Washington State Artist Trust GAP Literary Grant.

Toren Volkmann is a former Peace Corps Volunteer.