The Themes Of Addiction In Beautiful Boy By David Sheff

Addiction /ə-ˈdik-shən, a-/ noun 1. A strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble), 2. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (Addiction). Addiction can cause a person to sabotage their lives in order to get their next fix, whether that be scoring another gram of coke or a double with cheese, a large fry, and a large soda. Addicts are stuck in a constant cycle of getting cravings, going through with their ritual, using, experiencing guilt, and being emotionally triggered, thus bringing them back to the beginning. Now, most people when they hear the word “addiction”, the first thing that comes to their mind is drugs. However, if a vast majority of individuals

However, his addiction clasps onto him in his pursuit to recovery and pulls him back into his self-destructive habits on multiple occasions. Nic’s father and the author of the book, David Sheff, brings us into his point of view as his son goes through his fluctuating battle with drug dependency. Nic sabotages everything in his life to support his addiction; he steals from his family and other people, he lies about using, he lies in order to get money so he can use, and he gives up his home and safety. He knows that it’s wrong. “But addicts bring up these problems not to clear the air or with the hope of healing old wounds. They bring them up solely to induce guilt, a tool with which they manipulate other is pursuit of their continued addiction” (Sheff, 146). Also, Nic is dealing with a substantial amount of guilt and self-hatred at this time. In a way, it’s the only bit about Nic that is still truly Nic. Even though he is willing to commit horrible acts, he still has a conscience. Granted, that conscience is not there all the time, especially when he’s high or going through withdrawal, but it is still present in his mind nonetheless. When David tells us about what Nic was like when he was growing up--kind, smart, creative, humorous, good role-model—and compares that to what Nic was

It’s not a matter of willpower. They cannot just stop on their own or they would. No one wants to be an addict….People who say they can control it don’t understand the nature of the disease, because the disease is in control” (Sheff, 150). For many, individuals find something that makes them feel better and fills the void albeit temporarily. Then, they keep going after it to achieve the same feelings as before, and while some habits satisfy the user every time, others have to chase the dragon and are never able to experience that first sensation again. Before they know it, they use that substance as a crutch, and they cannot function without it. Though some people may manage to wriggle their way out of their habits slowly but surely, others fall victim to their own self-destruction before they can even begin to put a halt to it. Yet, there is always hope. With the support of others, encouragement, motivation, and patience, there are ways to prevent further usage or consumption. It takes quite a bit of determination to go through recovery because of relapse, but “relapse is a part of recovery” (Sheff, 167). Even still, life doesn’t have to