Critical Analysis on Beautiful Boy PDF

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A critical analysis on the book Beautiful Boy....

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“You didn’t cause it, you can’t control it, you can’t cure it.” This is a single phrase that family members of addicts have a hard time accepting. The memoir Beautiful Boy, written by author David Sheff recounts the experience he endured of having a son facing addiction. Sheff describes his son Nic as having an almost picture perfect childhood. David Sheff had no reason to suspect that his song was using drugs; after all, Nic had friends, was doing well in school, and participated in extracurricular activities. He was charming, charismatic, and adored by his two siblings. Nic turned from an intelligent child with undeniable potential, to a morose teenager whose displaced curiosity brought him to drugs. His drug use quickly escalated from alcohol and marijuana to more mood-altering substances including methamphetamine. On methamphetamine, he was a completely different person. On drugs, Nic was a liar who stole and lived on the streets. Sheff continually questioned every action he had taken that could have led his child to turn to drugs. Beautiful Boy shows the length that a father will go through to help his child. David Sheff states an explicit thesis in the text. In his memoir, Sheff states that addiction is a disease, and is as valid as cancer or a broken bone. An individual simply does not wake up one morning and decide they want to become an addict. He states that there is a deeper neurological concern regarding the functioning of the brain. Addiction is a cognitive distorted brain disease that is heavily shame based. An individual who is an addict has lost the ability to make decisions. They cannot differentiate right from wrong and will lie, deny, and manipulate due to desperation. While they know that drugs are detrimental, they cannot resist the high they get and the feeling of normalcy. They crave the drug as it creates a sense of functioning. Some

individuals have a biological predisposition that makes them more susceptible to abuse. Addiction is not about a lack of willpower, it is a chronic disease. When discussing theoretical assumptions, it is pertinent to remember that every circumstance is divergent. David Sheff presumed that his candor about prior drug experimentation and the revulsion he endured would deter his son from ever using; unfortunately he was wrong. Nic aspired to be like his childhood heroes, all of whom were addicts. Another theoretical assumption that Sheff speculated, was that his son would stop using drugs after his fatal near death overdose. Contrary to his thoughts, his son Nic continued taking drugs. This is a noteworthy detail, since addicts use drugs despite significant health problems. Sheff made the theoretical assumption that Nic could stay sober just by pure willpower. This assumption negates the research that addiction is a brain disease, where making choices are nonexistent. This eye-opening memoir affirms that there is no face of addiction. Someone could have the world at their fingertips, and still be an addict. Addiction is a stigmatized subject matter that many do not want to discuss. Those who do want to debate it, often say it is a matter of moral failing. This includes the belief that intoxication is a sin. Society has stigmatized individuals facing addiction as “liars” or “bums”. This negative connotation of addiction is a colossal reason why individuals do not seek help. They are embarrassed and ashamed of a behavior they cannot control, as society has labeled them. Addiction is just as much of a health matter as cancer or the flu. It deserves to get proper attention because it is a rising epidemic that is killing millions of individuals annually. Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior. It is chronic and complex in nature usually involving continued compulsive use despite serious health problems. It is critical that addiction be discussed so a better understanding can come forward.

Beautiful Boy includes personal observation, literary analysis, scientific and historical accounts. Sheff describes the personal observations he makes while caring for his son in need. He observes the behavior of addiction, including: the lying, stealing, and manipulation. At the he end comes to a realization that he cannot save his son. Sheff writes about a book called Addict in the Family. In this he confers that the family of an addict walk an unhappy path, where both pain and mistakes are inevitable. With this, he also states that growth and wisdom are also discovered. Addict in the Family asserts that recovery is possible and should never be given up on. He discusses the scientific research aspect, and how the use and damage of methamphetamine can often be irreversible. The prefrontal cortex of the brain becomes fully developed by age 26. When an individual uses a drug consistently at a young age, the brain stops developing emotionally. While drug abuse is harmful, there is more of a chance for reversibility after age 26. When observing the historical information, Sheff reviews the origin of methamphetamines, and how they were used during World War II to increase their troops’ endurance and performance. Soon afterwards, versions of methamphetamine were sold over the counter to alleviate exhaustion and aid in vitality. It was not much later that the symptoms from this drug emerged, including: hallucinations, ranting, and violence. Having a child facing addiction is every parent’s worst nightmare. Nobody ever thinks that it will be their child overdosing on drugs, or entering a rehabilitation center. David Sheff captures the painful yet accurate information about the struggle of having a child addicted to drugs. Sheff provides heart wrenching details, and gives readers a raw view on the difficulties of this disease. His writing is impeccable, and shows families facing addiction that they are not alone. In a society where stigma is rampant, I commend Sheff for sharing his story. While as a society we are making headway, there is still a lot that can be done to aid in the field of addiction.

The work of David Sheff makes a valid contribution to the field of addiction. Sheff demonstrates knowledge for the topic at hand, as well as incorporates scientific research. Theories argue that some individuals become physically dependent to drugs and alcohol which leads to repeated abuse. Sheff states that addiction disrupts circuits in the brain that are responsible for reward, motivation, learning, judgment, and memory. He argues that drugs can cause neurons in the brain to release abnormally large amounts of neurotransmitters or prevent normal recycling of brain chemicals. Most drugs of abuse target the brain’s reward system by flooding it with dopamine. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21.5 million Americans experience substance abuse. As social workers, it is paramount to be familiar with addiction and what it constitutes. Whether an individual wants to work in the field of addiction or not, I believe it is important to be able to recognize it and then refer. Social workers play an integral role in working with those affected by drug and alcohol abuse. This ranges in everything from direct treatment with the client, to working with the family of the addicted individual. Social workers account for the largest providers of mental health services; therefore it would be instinctive to be directly involved. Addiction to drugs and alcohol can negatively affect every part of an individual’s personality and actions. This continues to be a rising problem and it is pertinent that social workers are trained and educated in both prevention and recovery. Addiction is never easy and it is never over; it will be a fight renewed each morning, but it is possible....