Educational Media Reviews Online

Responding with knowledge and candor, consultants Dr. Barbara Sullivan, Utah Addiction Center and Dr. Stephen Dewey, Brookhaven National Laboratory are interviewed for their expertise as these “top 10 myths” are presented. Beginning with the “Everybody’s doing it” myth, and proceeding to debunk nine others, this video delivers the truth behind the false assumptions of young persons’ knowledge of alcohol and drugs.

HRM casts a young male teen as the on-screen narrator. He takes the viewer through the hype and adolescent beliefs one at a time. The consultants as authorities add the weight of truth through knowledge and experience for each myth. Eleven individuals in recovery are interviewed and the film is edited to intersperse myth – fact – personal experience. Because the information is delivered in an engaging, fast-paced manner, it is possible that some young viewers will come away with knowledge debunking the abundant misinformation surrounding drugs and alcohol.

HRM delivers the video with a current curriculum to lead discussions and engage students in the classroom, including an extensive bibliography with resources that are packaged in a 3-ring binder. This Teacher’s Resource Book is well done. The production of the video is professional and of high quality. The scratchy film technique gives the edginess of an old documentary. And, it should be noted that some of the video clips are used in other HRM videos on substance abuse.

This particular video would be well matched with the other HRM title, Natural Highs and the Truth about So-called “Natural” Drugs in a classroom setting.

This resource is highly recommended for school media centers.