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EssenceFamilyWritingTeamSetsTeensStraightAboutDrugsAndAlcoholx1cIwanttowriteaboutdrugsandthedamagetheydotopeopleandtheirfamilies.x1dx1cOurmissionistotalktokidsaboutdrugsandletthemknowtherex19sabetterwaytolive.x1dSavannaJillVanderwood25EntroSpring2012TheProjectGainsMomentumIn14monthsthetwoofthemco-wrotethebookDrugsMakeYouUn-Smarterawonderfulresourceforteensthatcontainsapowerfularsenaloftipsandtechniquesforsayingnotodrugsandcreatingasatisfyingrewardinglife.FullofpoignanthoneststoriesaboutpeoplewhohaveabuseddrugsthebookisdividedintofivesectionsSavannax19sStoryHowDrugsAffectaFamilyFactsAboutDrugsRehabilitationandSuccessStories.Theauthorsconductedinterviewswithaddictsandusersofallagesandprofessionsanddidextensiveresearchtoensurethebookconveyedathoroughunderstandingofthenatureandeffectsofdrugsandalcohol.Someoftheirexpertsourcesincludedoctorsapharmacistandasheriff.Thelasttwosectionsofthebookpresentexcellentchoicesandmotivationsforabstinenceandrecovery.ThroughthebookSavannamakesanimpassionedpleatootherteensnottogetinvolvedindrugsurgingthemtogetaneducationandmakeagoodlifeforthemselves.Readerslearnaboutgoal-orientedkidswholikeSavannamadeachoicetoremaindrug-free.ReachingOuttoTeensandParentsTheauthorshaveobviouslystruckachordwithteensparentsandgrandparents.TheyhavemadepresentationstochurchgroupsBoysGirlsClubsschoolclassroomsandarehabcenter.x1cIenjoyedspeakingtotheadultsinrehabthebestx1dSavannasays.x1cThereweretearswhentheyexplainedhowwehadaffectedthelivesoftheirchildrenandtheysaidthatifIwasabletoremaindrug-freeaftergrowinguparounddrugsandalcoholmaybetheirownchildrenwouldbeokay.x1dThefeedbackisoverwhelminglypositive.Saidoneyoungreaderx1cItreallyinspiresmetodoubleuponmypromisetomyselfnottousedrugsoralcohol.x1dTheirwebsiteJillVanderwood.comisanothersuperbresourceforfamiliesofferingahostofsuggestionsforparentsandteensamyriadofusefularticlesandinformationandlinkstohelpfulwebsitesonrelatedissues.SaysJillx1cOurmissionistotalktokidsaboutdrugsandletthemknowtherex19sabetterwaytolive.x1dButshefeelshermostimportantcontributionistomakeabetterlifeforSavanna.x1cShehasseenthatpeoplelookuptoherandadmireherconviction.Shehasbeeninterviewedandspokentoaudiencesfromkidstoadultsandthishasgreatlyhelpedherself-esteem.x1dSavannarecallsx1cIwantedtowriteabooktellingkidsthatevenifsomeoneintheirfamilyisdoingdrugsordrinkingtheydonx19thaveto.x1dAndthatx19sexactlywhatshedid.Ifyoux19reateenagerwhatdoyoudowhenyourfatherbrothergrandparentuncleandcousinsaredoingdrugsordrinkingYoualsododrugsrightNotSavannaPetersonwhowentbeyondtheexpectationsofothersandtookahighlyvisiblestandagainstdrugs.AuthorJillVanderwoodwasalreadywell-knownforherdelightfulchildrenx19sbookseriesThroughtheRuginvolvingtheimaginarylandofWishvillewhereallwishesaregranted.Shex19salsoknownforgettinginvolvedinthethingsshex19spassionateabout.Infacttheauthoroncetookax1cleapforliteracyx1dbyskydivingfrom12500feetinOgdenUtah.ThenJillfoundherselfmovinginaverydifferentdirectionwhenherfifteen-year-oldgranddaughtertookheruponanoffertogetabookpublished.x1cGrandmax1dSavannasaidx1cIwanttowriteaboutdrugsandthedamagetheydotopeopleandtheirfamilies.x1dAnAppleThatFallsFarFromtheTreeByallaccountsSavannashouldhavebecomeadruguserherself.Herbrotherwasanaddict.Herfatherapatternoffenderwhowasconstantlyinandoutofprisonwoulduseanydrughecouldfindanddoanythingtogetmoneyforhishabitx14robabankcommitinsurancefraudwritebadchecks.YetSavannastayedcleanandherdisturbingfamilylifewasactuallywhatpreparedthegroundforherwritingeffort.Thegirlwasonlyeightwhenshedrewherpersonallineinthesandx14nodrugsnoalcohol.SowhensevenyearslaterJillofferedhergranddaughteranopportunitytobecomeanauthorSavannajumpedatit.JillVanderwoodisthe2008WriteroftheYearfortheLeagueofUtahWriters.Sheistheauthoroffivechildrenx19sYAbooksThroughtheRugThroughtheRug2FollowthatDogandStowawayTheSanFranciscoAdventuresofSarathePineappleCat.HerfirstnonfictionchildrensbookWhatx19sitLikeLivingGreenKidsTeachingKidsbytheWayTheyLivetooktheNationalIndieExcellenceAwardTheTeenDevelopmentAwardandtheBestBooks2009Award.JillandherhusbandBillareparentsoffourandgrandparentsofsix.SavannaPetersonvolunteersasaspeakerforBoysandGirlsClubschurchgroupsschoolsandrehabprograms.Savannawouldeventuallyliketoaddressprisonerstotellthemwhattheirdruguseisdoingtotheirchildren.Teachinghowtoliveadrug-freelifebyexampletheteenagerhopestobeeitheracrimesceneinvestigatororadrugcounselor.DrugsMakeYouUn-SmarterreceivedaMomsChoiceAwardtheGoldenQuillAwardoftheLeagueofUtahWritersandisafinalistintheIndyExcellenceAwards.Thecoauthorshavebeenfeaturedonvariouslocaltelevisionandradionewsshowsandinassortednewspapersandhopetoreachchildrenandparentsonamorenationalplatform.