Educational Media Reviews Online

Dying High: Teens in the ER is one of several substance abuse education programs distributed by Human Relations Media. This eye-opening video features conversations with health care professionals who work in hospital emergency rooms, teens who have been patients in the ER due to drugs and alcohol, and parents who have lost a child in a drug or alcohol related incident. Using an interview format, the health care professionals interviewed explain emergency room procedures such as the procedure for pumping a patient’s stomach due to a drug overdose. Young adults discuss their experiences as patients in the ER. The most heartbreaking story however is a parent’s story of losing a child to a drug-related incident.

This video does not talk down to the audience; nothing here is “sugar-coated “or “warm and fuzzy.” The film is rather graphic in its descriptions and images of emergency room procedures, and for good reasons.

Included with the video is a 33-page resource guide divided into two sections: student activities and fact sheets. For student activities, you will find resources appropriate for various age levels. Activities range from ideas for research topics, to role-playing exercises, to creative writing ideas. The fact sheets include a list of web resources, intoxication limits for males and females, and information on alcohol poisoning.

The resource guide makes this video extremely useful and highly recommended for middle school or high school library media center collections, as well as public libraries serving a young adult population. Also beneficial for teacher training, social work or health sciences collections in an academic library. .

Awards

• Chris Gold Statuette in the Columbus International Film & Video Festival.