![]() The main character of this gripping memoir, Nic Sheff, was introduced to drugs early in life, when his father provided him with his first snort of speed as a way to “tweak” his concentration on his schoolwork. Though the relapses did not involve hard drugs and he was able to seek help quickly, Nic acknowledges that he will always struggle with addiction and be an addict.Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines takes an unflinching yet compassionate look at the desperate and devastating reality of a young adult’s life, spun out of control due to the abuse of highly addictive methamphetamine. Nevertheless, in the Afterword, he confesses that he has relapsed since. The memoir ends on a hopeful note, with Nic declaring that he has benefitted greatly from treatment. Though Nic is initially unwilling and skeptical, he comes to trust in and benefit greatly from this dual-diagnosis program, which treats his addiction as well as the mental illness and trauma fueling it. After a near-death experience and a drug-fueled breakdown, Nic’s parents force him to enter another inpatient treatment program. When Nic realizes that Zelda’s own recovery and sobriety is a lie, he relapses again. His obsession with her leads him away from the 12-step program, his friends, and his family. ![]() Nic’s toxic relationship with Zelda also hinders Nic’s progress toward recovery. Despite making it to one year of sobriety, he continues to feel lost and anchorless. Nic recognizes that faith is a crucial part of the 12-step program, a strategy that has helped him in the past, but he cannot manifest a genuine belief in a higher power. His most persistent struggle is lack of faith in a higher power. He grapples with the 12-step program, mental illness, feelings of inadequacy, and his attempts to reunite with his broken family. Part 2 focuses on Nic’s slow and painful path to sobriety. He calls his sponsor in Los Angeles, Spencer, who convinces him to get clean. When Lauren overdoses and Gack’s plan to sell diluted drugs fails, Nic questions his return to drug use. Nic and Gack begin to deal and do drugs together regularly, and Nic’s drug use quickly spirals out of control. Very quickly, Nic connects with an ex-lover and drug addict, Lauren, and befriends his dealer, Gack. He relapses because he is distraught over a toxic relationship with Zelda, an older woman and drug addict whom Nic has left behind in Los Angeles. ![]() The author begins the story in San Francisco, at the time of his most recent relapse. Part 1 of Tweak focuses on how Nic became a drug addict, culminating at the peak of his drug use: His addiction to crystal meth. By the time Nic reaches his early 20s, he has already gone through numerous treatment programs and experienced a number of relapses and recovery periods. Eventually, he becomes addicted to crystal meth, his drug of choice. Throughout his teen years, Nic continues to experiment with a variety of drugs, from pot and ecstasy to cocaine and heroin. He also mentions that alcoholism runs in his family. The memoir begins with an anecdote about Nic’s first experience with addictive substances at the age of 11, when, for the first time, he got black-out drunk.
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