THIS IS THE sixth year that I have written about "420," the day that many teens will get high on marijuana, many for the first time. 420, pronounced "four-20," happens on April 20 and is for some teens the equivalent of Mardi Gras and New Year's Eve combined.

Two Marin families have written powerful books on the terror of their teen's substance abuse. "The Lost Years: Surviving a Mother and Daughter's Worst Years," by Kristina Wandzilak and her mother, Constance Curry and "Beautiful Boy," by father David Sheff, tell poignant stories of Marin teens who almost died from drug use.

[continues 503 words]