Mom, Help Me!

Roadmap to Guiding Your Teen Away from Substance Use & Addiction

Non-Fiction - Parenting
196 Pages
Reviewed on 05/06/2025
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In the self-help guide Mom, Help Me! by Nevriye A. Yesil, the author addresses the impact of adolescent drug use, noting early initiation, brain disruption, and the risks of psychiatric disorders and overdose deaths. She outlines addiction stages and tells readers that adolescent drug use can cause irreversible damage. Yesil speaks on the relationship between mental health and substance use, shining a light on genetic and environmental influences. For parents, Yesil stresses early intervention, identifying signs of drug use like changes in hygiene and behavior, and using the "Regulate-Relate-Reason" approach. Yesil discusses evidence-based strategies like Motivational Interviewing and the ARISE® intervention, advising against extreme measures and educating on the balance between helping and enabling. In rehabilitation, Yesil gives strategies for preventing relapse, maintaining a drug-free environment, and seeking professional support when necessary.

Mom, Help Me! Roadmap to Guiding Your Teen Away from Substance Use and Addiction by Nevriye A. Yesil is a wonderfully thoughtful and wholly practical resource for parents concerned about teen substance use, which is, if we're being honest, the majority of parents. The book is geared toward mothers but Yesil provides clear, actionable advice with a compassionate understanding of the diversity of parentage and the issues individual families may face. I love that there is a call to guide their teens with empathy, rather than fear, and that Yesil pinpoints effective strategies for both prevention and intervention. I found the writing to be accessible, even conversational, and she displays the same compassion in her directives that she champions for readers. In plain speech, Yesil walks the walk. Overall, this is the book that no parent wants to have to read but it is desperately needed in the state of the world our children are facing today. Very highly recommended.

Pikasho Deka

In 2021, more than 106,000 people died of drug-related cases in America. Nevriye A. Yesil is a forensic psychologist with years of experience working with incarcerated women with a history of drug abuse. in Mom, Help Me! Yesil offers mothers a thorough guide to ensure their children stay away from drugs and, for those who are afflicted with addiction, find their way back to recovery. The book opens by showcasing the effects of drugs on the human brain, which include structural changes, impaired cognitive functions, and increasing risk of addiction. According to the author, consistent use of drugs builds tolerance and alters the dopaminergic reward system. Yesil also lists the ways addiction develops over time, starting with experimentation and occasional use, and explores the hidden dangers of legal drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and over-the-counter and prescription medication.

Mom, Help Me! will teach you how substance abuse affects mental health as well as the different environmental factors that lead to drug use. Author Nevriye A. Yesil underscores the importance of practicing self-love and building resilience. She explains in detail how the role of parents includes forging a connection, showing respect, and educating oneself on the adverse effects of drug use. This is an A-Z handbook for mothers and parents, in general, to help their children build healthy relationships and stay away from negative influences that can lead to drugs and substance abuse. After finishing the book, you will learn to recognize drug use in children through physical and behavioral signs and prepare yourself to confront them in the right way and guide them on the path to recovery. You will also discover the various treatment options and some insightful tips on life after addiction. Highly recommended.