Teaching elementary-age children about the concept of addiction with the hopes they will say NO when confronted with addictive substances when they are older.
(1888PressRelease) July 19, 2023 - BOSTON - Massachusetts General Hospital's pediatric professionals, Dr. Gleeson Rebello and NP Laura Redfern, have teamed up with Tufts University School of Medicine student Helen Karimi and Albany Medical College student Nicholas Taylor to publish a timely and compelling children's book entitled Lily Learns a Life Lesson: The Truth About Vaping and Drugs.
This book follows the journey of nine-year-old Lily, who, after witnessing the life-threatening consequences of her neighbor's experience with vaping, is taught the harsh realities of drug use by her mother. Empowered by her newfound knowledge, Lily assertively chooses to decline when offered drugs at school.
According to a poll by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan, in 2022, about 3 percent of middle schoolers and 14 percent of high school students said they had vaped in the past 30 days. SingleCare stated that from 2017 to 2019, the percentage of high school students who vaped in the past 30 days increased among 12th graders (11 percent to 25 percent), 10th graders (8 percent to 20 percent) and 8th graders (4 percent to 9 percent).
Lily Learns a Life Lesson: The Truth About Vaping and Drugs offers a creative and informative approach to discussing the sensitive topic of drug use with younger children before they have been exposed to them. The book's primary message is clear and essential: Don't do drugs!
Dr. Gleeson Rebello, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School faculty member since 2008, shared his inspiration behind the book, stating, “I grew up in a part of the world (Goa) which had the reputation of a party town where, unfortunately, alcohol and drugs were freely available. It left a trail of deaths and destroyed homes. My Mom’s constant admonishments of ‘Don’t drink, don’t smoke’ started right from my pre-school years and stayed with me. As a result of these subliminal messages, I was able to withstand peer pressure when I became a teenager. This was also the impetus to write this book for the very young, who would be way more receptive to this important message when they cuddle up to you and read with you. I think it is more effective than introducing this concept to a rebellious and resistant teenager.”
Contributing author Laura Redfern, a pediatric orthopedic nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a devoted mother to three young sons, who served as her motivation in creating this resource. Helen Karimi, a medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine and co-founder of Neuroplex Industries, Inc., and Nicholas Taylor, a medical student at Albany Medical College, also bring their passion for community health to the project.
Lily Learns a Life Lesson: The Truth About Vaping and Drugs is an essential resource for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals seeking to teach children about the perils of drug use in a way that is engaging, relatable and age-appropriate.
The book is now available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and SDP Publishing.
About the Authors
Dr. Gleeson Rebello, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He is also the author of two other children's books, Darebone's Big Break, and Joe Some-More.
Laura Redfern is a pediatric orthopedic nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital and an alumnus of Point Loma Nazarene University and UMass Amherst.
Helen Karimi is a medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine and a co-founder of Neuroplex Industries, Inc., a company that aims to promote neurosurgical safety.
Nicholas Taylor is a medical student at Albany Medical College with a BA in molecular biology and biochemistry from Wesleyan University.
Teaching elementary-age children about the concept of addiction with the hopes they will say NO when confronted with addictive substances when they are older. 
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