A "semi-autobiographical verse novel" novel by the mother of a former teen meth addict, Crank has been portrayed as a harrowing account of the rapidity with which a teen can sink into drug addiction -- and the depths to which that addiction can drag both teens and their families.

A review by Allison Spooner of examiner.com provided an outline of the novel's plot as well as a bit about author Ellen Hopkins:

Kristina [the novel's main character] is a typical, well behaved teenager; she gets good grades, she stays out of trouble, she loves her family. This all changes when Kristina goes to visit her absent, deadbeat father in an attempt to re-connect to the man she calls the "Prince of Albuquerque."

Her illusion soon crumbles as she discovers the "Prince" is a drug addict and exactly the same deadbeat her mother assumed he was. Soon Kristina is thrust head first into an addiction to "the monster."

The author states at the beginning that these events are loosely based on her experience with her own daughter's addiction, and that nothing in the story is impossible. To those who don't have any experience with addiction, it's scary to learn how fast one substance can take control (meth doing so faster than most).

Teen meth addiction can be a particularly devastating form of drug abuse. Methamphetamine is highly addictive, and can inflict significant damage upon an individual's body and mind in a relatively brief period of time.

Labels: teen_drug_use, addiction, meth

Posted By: Aspen/CRC