The Shelves

Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse Books

Books selected for readers looking for drugs, alcohol, substance abuse books.

30 booksApril 2, 2026

Part of 470+ tracked lists·52% reader overlap with Homelessness & Poverty Books

1. The Evolving Truth of Ever-stronger Will
Maya MacGregor
Fits this list for its focus on abuse.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
2. After
Amy Efaw
Fits this list for its focus on abuse and substance.
Shelf signal: Surviving Sexual Abuse
3. When We Ride
Rex Ogle
Fits this list for its focus on drugs.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
4. The New David Espinoza
Fred Aceves
Fits this list for its focus on abuse.
Shelf signal: Hispanic & Latino YA
5. Impulse
Ellen Hopkins
Included for strong fiction alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Teen Suicide
6. Sync
Ellen Hopkins
Included for strong mental alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: YA Orphan & Foster Stories
7. Born Blue
Han Nolan
Fits this list for its focus on abuse and substance.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
8. Heroine
Mindy McGinnis
Included for strong book club alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
9. The Gospel of Winter
Brendan Kiely, Nick Podehl
Fits this list for its focus on abuse.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
10. Jay's Journal
Anonymous, Beatrice Sparks
Fits this list for its focus on drugs and substance.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
11. The You I've Never Known
Ellen Hopkins
Included for strong realistic alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: YA Stories About Parents
12. Find Layla
Meg Elison
Included for strong coming alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Surviving Sexual Abuse
13. Street Pharm
Allison van Diepen
Included for strong relationship alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
14. Sun Don't Shine
Crissa-Jean Chappell
Strong fit for this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list in the runaway stories lane.
Shelf signal: Runaway Stories
15. Letting Ana Go
Anonymous
Included for strong teen alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Eating Disorders & Body Image for Teens
16. Out of Reach
Carrie Arcos
Included for strong award alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
17. Perfect
Ellen Hopkins
Included for strong lgbt alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
18. The Second Trial
Rosemarie Boll
Fits this list for its focus on abuse and substance.
Shelf signal: Surviving Sexual Abuse
19. Gather
Kenneth M. Cadow
Included for strong book club alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
20. Go Ask Alice/jay's Journal (boxed Set)
Anonymous, Beatrice Sparks
Fits this list for its focus on abuse and substance.
Shelf signal: Substance Abuse & Addiction for Teens
21. Crank
Ellen Hopkins
Included for strong coming alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
22. You Don't Have to Die in the End
Anita Daher
Included for strong reading alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Death & Grief for Teens
23. Just Kickin' It
Julie Thompson
Included for strong social alignment with this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list.
Shelf signal: Peer Pressure for Teens
24. L.e.a.p.
Toni Bellon
Strong fit for this drugs, alcohol, substance abuse list in the addiction & substance use for teens lane.
Shelf signal: Addiction & Substance Use for Teens