Linda Quirk

Hi there!

What would compel a 56-year old mother & and grandmother & to run seven marathons on seven continents in a single year? I'm happy to tell you, as I've done just that, finishing my final marathon in Antarctica two weeks ago. This ambitious mission was the fulfillment of a promise I made to myself and my family to do whatever it took to raise awareness and funding to help teens struggling with drug and alcohol dependence get the help they need.

Several years ago, my stepdaughter was locked in a terrible battle with drug addiction, and thanks to the right treatment and hard work, she is healthy today.

I ran around the world to reinforce the importance of making sure kids have every shot at a healthy life — but you probably won't have to work this hard to get your kid's attention at home. You can start by having regular conversations about the risks of drugs and alcohol, using everyday opportunities to keep the discussion going. And if you have a teen you're concerned about, don't wait to take action — learn what you can do to help them.

• Visit the updated Time To Talk website to learn ways to get the conversation going with your teen.
• Visit the Partnership's new Time To Act website to find out what to do if you suspect — or know — your teen is drinking or using drugs.

See you at the finish line!
Linda Quirk

Mother of three children, grandmother of three grandchildren,
marathoner and advocate for adolescent drug treatment, founder www.Run7on7.com

Tweak Now Available in Paperback - Download Free Discussion Guide

Twentysomething Nic Sheff's memoir Tweak, a provocative, powerful account of his struggle through methamphetamine addiction, has been released in paperback by Atheneum Books for Young Readers — Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Nic takes his readers deep into the heart of his battle and through his journey toward recovery.

Tweak is the companion book to Beautiful Boy, Nic's father David Sheff's emotional story of coming to terms with his son's addiction. Download the Partnership's free discussion guide for Tweak — it's a great tool for parents to engage in—depth discussions with their teens about the many topics covered in the book.

Nic Sheff continues to fight daily battles in his recovery. He will be sharing more of his personal experiences through the Partnership's new blog, Intervene, launching this spring at drugfree.org.

Learn How to Keep Your Kids Safe This Spring Break

A whopping seventy—eight percent of students are still planning to travel for Spring Break 2009, despite the current economy, according to a survey conducted by STA Travel, the world's largest student and youth travel agency. If your child is one of the thousands of spring breakers, make sure you prepare her with information on how to handle situations where drugs and alcohol may be offered. Although your high—school or college—aged kid may be thousands of miles from home, you are your child's first line of defense. Learn the successful strategies for teaching your kids to turn down drugs and alcohol.

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They believe that the label of a "dad" is one which is earned, not provided through the birth of a child. To learn more, visit www.DictionaryForDads.com.

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