beautiful boy - how drug addiction tests a father’s love for his son
by Laurel on July 10, 2008It turns out I’m quite naive when it comes to drugs. Sure I’ve seen addicts on the streets talking to themselves or harassing people for money, I’ve even dealt with quite a few on the psychiatry wards during medical school, but always I’m smugly confident that my kids could never turn out like that. Surely If a child is well-raised by good and loving parents that won’t happen. *swallow*.
beautiful boy is a true story written by David Sheff about his son’s addiction to meth, heroin, ecstasy and more. His well-raised, well-loved, intelligent, popular son was on his way to success in academia and sports when he discovered drugs in his early teens. His desperate dad tries to cope with the fact that his son may never finish college or hold a job or be anything but a drug-shooting bum. He blames himself for some unknown parenting mistake and blames his son for ‘choosing’ the drugs, while having his family life thrown into chaos each time there is a relapse.
The best thing about this book is that it’s written from the father’s perspective. Having a child who is an addict is not something that comes up easily in conversation, and definitely not something that you hear a lot of fathers talk about. I gained a new perspective on how addiction in one person takes over the lives of the whole family and easily becomes all-consuming, much like if your child has cancer. It scared me to realize that despite my best intentions, this could happen to my kid someday, and there’s not a damn thing I could do about it. This book is a must read for an addict’s loved ones, and a compelling read for anyone else as you walk a mile in this family’s shoes.
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I am a true book piggy. I would rather shop for a book than for clothes, love nothing more than to curl up on the couch with a new book, and have been known to devour entire books in one sitting.
One Response to “beautiful boy - how drug addiction tests a father’s love for his son”
This is one of the most touching and informative books I have ever read. My mother is going through a similiar situation that this father went through and she is not coping well. “Beautiful Boy” helped me understand her and understand what addiction is. I loved it! Your book will save many lives!
By Irma on Jul 30, 2008