Beautiful Boy: film analysis and emotional response

Beautiful Boy Reaction: Part III

Whatever" of David Sheff's book Beautiful Boy addresses the author's attempt to get his son, Nic, into a treatment program. Nic's hostility towards his father is palpable, as is David's helplessness in the situation. Nic, though a boy by many societal standards, is an adult and David's power to compel him into a treatment program is incomplete. Furthermore, Nic's medical condition, as assessed by the addiction rehabilitation counselor at the Oakland Rehab, is severe. Not only is he using a greater amount of drugs than many drug abusers much older than he is, but he is engaging in a dangerous practice of combining drugs. Furthermore, she says that the program is not right for Nic because he is proud of his hardcore status, resistant to treatment, and in denial about the severity of his problem. She offers David other resources, but does not seem to think that Nic will be successful in a rehab (Sheff, 2008, p.127). This element of the book really addresses hopelessness that families face when battling a family member's education. Even the best help-seeking efforts often fail to yield results, which can cause a downward spiral in the family morale, exacerbating tension, which can influence usage by the addict.

Furthermore, Sheff has young children at the time that Nic is struggling with addiction. In this chapter, he addresses how he and his wife approach their younger children, Daisy and Jasper, about Nic's drug addiction. They encourage their children to seek out help from people at school, though they are not good about following their own instructions for self-care. They respond to a counselor's suggestion that they go on a date with the response that they are, indicating how changed the family dynamic has been by Nic's addiction (Sheff, 2008, p.132). Both of these passages help highlight that addiction is a systemic problem, impacting the entire family, not just the addict.

Beautiful Boy Reaction: Part IV

"Part IV: If Only" of David Sheff's book Beautiful Boy opens with David and Karen heading to an Al-Anon meeting, their version of a date while they face Nic's addiction. David discusses his initial reluctance to discuss Nic's addiction with anyone. What is interesting is that he says it was not because he was ashamed, but not because he did not want people to change their opinions of Nic. However, the fact that he was aware that people's opinions would change because of Nic's addiction and that he initially looked down upon the other family members at the Al Anon meeting. He comes to find solace, comfort, and strength in those meetings, and they seem to give him the strength to realize that he does not need to hide his son's addiction.

He also seems to begin to understand the distinction between his son and the disease. He acknowledges that it is Nic's addiction that causes so many of his negative behaviors and reminds himself that Nic's recidivism is part of the addiction, though he wonders if it is a "moral failing or character flaw (Sheff, 2008, p.179). However, Sheff also comes to a conclusion that is important for all people dealing with addicts and addiction. According to Sheff, "It is not Nic's fault that he has a disease, but it is his fault that he relapses, since he is the only one who can do the work necessary to prevent relapse. Whether or not it's his fault, he must be held accountable" (Sheff, 2008, p.179). The idea of accountability is a critical one for addicts because they frequently seek to avoid responsibility for their disease. For example, Nic revealed to David that he wished he had any other disease because people would not blame him for having the disease, but the reality is that people would expect him to seek treatment if he had another disease and would hold him accountable if he failed to seek treatment. At some point in time, the failure to seek treatment for any disease becomes more of an overt act against one's loved ones than the benign neglect of self.

Beautiful Boy Reaction: Part V

"Part V: Never any Knowing" of David Sheff's book Beautiful Boy describes David's experience with a subdural hemorrhage. He is rushed to the hospital and has few lucid thoughts, but the thoughts that he have are about Nic and wondering where Nic is and if he is okay. David discusses how he frequently wished he could somehow have a lobotomy while he was dealing with Nic's addiction, so that he could avoid having to worry about Nic. However, what David discovers is that even after he experiences a traumatic brain event, he is still consumed with thoughts of his son. Trying to figure out how to call Nic on the phone, David, who is in critical medical shape and unable to even remember his own name, still thinks he would find himself analyzing the sounds of Nic's voice to see if he can detect drug usage. When Nic finally comes to see him, Nic is still sober, and David's relief is palpable to the reader.

The experience in the hospital makes David realize that, even if he had the choice, he would not end his relationship with his son, even if Nic relapses again. He does not necessarily blame the parents who make that choice, because he felt that urge prior to his hemorrhage. He says, "Some people may opt out. Their child turns out to be whatever it is they find impossible to face- for some, the wrong religion; for some, the wrong sexuality; for some, a drug addict" (Sheff, 2008, p.249). David realizes he will never be free from the worry that comes with his son, because he will never be that parent. David says, "I have a son and he will never be dead to me" (Sheff, 2008, p.249). However, Nic continues to experience a cycle of relapse and recovery, and, as David watches his life spiral down with Nic's he comes to the same conclusion that many family members of addicts must make: loving his son does not necessarily mean spending time with his son. He comes to the conclusion that he has to avoid Nic when Nic is using, because the person who is using is not his son (Sheff, 2008, p.267).

Beautiful Boy Reaction: Epilogue

The epilogue of David Sheff's book Beautiful Boy is only partially an epilogue. Any person familiar with addiction and the cycle of relapse and recovery that often accompanies an addict realizes that any story describing an addict's recovery will never truly have an epilogue; until the day that Nic dies, he will be an addict and relapse will always be a possibility, even if long periods of sobriety make relapse less and less likely. David describes this by describing the meaningless nature of statistics when one is talking about relapse and recovery rates and one's own child. He underscores the fact that, "with addiction, no outcome is guaranteed" (Sheff, 2008, p.314). Therefore, he makes it clear that he is aware that he may or may not be writing about the end of Nic's struggles with addiction.