Gotcha! Watcha! Drugs Are a Trap: Poems about Drugs and All Kinds of Other Things

Gotcha! Watcha! is a book of warnings, in poetic form, some light-hearted, some heavy, all deadly serious. Drugs are deadly serious. The book is intended as an educational book, designed to inform in a realistic and sometimes whimsical way. Should be of interest to anyone who wants to inform and educate in an effort to combat drugs. Suitable for middle school children and adults. The book deals with both the psychological and physical aspects of drug and alcohol abuse and the real ramifications to people's lives in an entertaining way. Relationships, family and friends are affected by substance abuse and the books deals with these aspects as well. Whether used as a self-help book in dealing with behavior modifications or for reading and discuss in classrooms--or in broaching the issue of drugs to young and old, the book covers a plethora of issues. Authors's note: Can I convince anybody of anything-especially with peer pressures and the desire to go along with the crowd? Maybe not, but if I could convince you of anything it would be to weigh the question of drugs, think about the dangers and implications. Taking drugs can be like wandering into a war-zone: chaos all around you and there is little you can do. Especially if you're addicted, mentally or physically, you can't leave that chaos. I'm from a generation that has seen the effects of drugs on so many, on friends and family. I'm not naive, not a goody-two-shoes, somebody who doesn't get it. I can hold my own (in my age group now) on the basketball court, and I work hard at what I do, and always try to respect others. With drugs, no amount of preparation will insure safety for you-if you have an addictive personality or otherwise get addicted. You are out there alone. I've seen too many lives changed, too many lives ruined, friends, people of decency and promise, torn away from principles, family, loves and lives. If these scenarios all sound awful, it's because I'm not softening the truth on one of life's real risks. We'll let the media and the celebrities do the celebrating of drugs.They, too, have their falls from grace. And no, I didn't and don't do drugs. In my youth, I stuck to sports where I believed I had to take care of myself. Mostly, I saw, even then, what drugs did. Perhaps, I can't persuade you, but I should stop and let the poems do some talking. Maybe they can make a better case than I do here. -Irv Broughton, Author"

About the Author :
Irv Broughton is author of fifteen books of poetry, non-fiction and fiction. A graduate of the distinguished writing program at Hollins College (now university), where he received an Academy of American Poets recognition, he also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Florida State, where he played basketball. He is widely recognized for his work in oral history in capturing the too-often-forgotten stories of WWII fliers, writers, producers and everyday folks, in both film and print form.