Drugs are rampant in our society right now. From the experimentation of young teens to the fully addicted, they permiate through everything. In Beautiful Boy, David Sheff takes on a journey that no parent ever wants to experience – watching your child spiral downward into addiction hell.
When I read this book, I had just returned from Agape Tour where we visit drug and alcohol rehab facilities. We hear stories of hope & redemption but rarely hear the cycle that parents and families endure during this process. This book broke my heart. The passion of a father who wanted to see his son released from the pain of his addiction and the son who appeared to fight against everything that seemed appropriate to heal.
David Scheff recounts the spiral of his son, Nic Sheff, into this addiction from his point of view. He questions the decisions he made – divorce, enablement, recovery, etc. I can’t imagine what a parent thinks & fears when he doesn’t hear from his child for weeks and months at a time. When contact is made, the constant questioning of the truth is always present in the forefront of the mind as David recounts. He tells of the denial of the problem, the times his house was broken in to, the times his son was higher than a kite and many other experiences.
However, this story is not entirely devoid of hope and redemption. He talks about the journey of surfing, kayaking, and other activities including a family vacation after one of Nic’s stints in rehab & sobriety. There was a sorrow and joy in the writing as there should be. There was the moment when enough was enough – rehab or no support at all.
This book is a realistic approach to the family side of the drug issue. It is not for the faint of heart, either. This book is raw, full of emotion, moments of course language, but I also believe it is a book that all parents should read. Pick this book up today for a rare look behind the family side of drug related illnesses.
For Nic Sheff’s side of the story, check out Tweak – it is also a fantastic read.
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