The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is proud to have David Sheff, parent and author of "Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction," as a guest blogger on the Partnership's parent-to-parent blog, Decoder (decoder.drugfree.org), which engages the everyday issues of raising healthy, drug-free teens.
Sheff's blog debuted on February 26, 2008 and he joins a panel of parents who discuss substance abuse, teen culture, current events pertaining to teenage drug and alcohol abuse and other parenting concerns.
Based on his New York Times Magazine article, "My Addicted Son," Sheff's "Beautiful Boy" is an insightful memoir detailing his son Nic's descent into methamphetamine addiction. Providing a firsthand parent's perspective on teenage addiction, Sheff's compelling account has captured the nation's attention and reveals the overwhelming impact of one family's struggle to help their son on the road to recovery. Published by Houghton Mifflin, "Beautiful Boy" was selected by Starbucks Entertainment (starbucksentertainment.com/beautifulboy) as the next book to be sold in its more than 7,000 company-operated locations in the U.S. Sheff will embark on a traditional book tour and visit nine local Starbucks across the country to promote his memoir. His first public reading on the tour is February 26 at noon in New York City at the Starbucks at 29th and Park (424 Park Ave South). Starbucks is also helping parent teen communication by promoting tools available on TimeToTalk.org, designed to encourage and support parents and caregivers to have frequent and positive conversations with their teens to keep them healthy.
"I feel grateful for the opportunity to represent a sector of the community whose voice is rarely heard – the parents and families affected by a child's substance abuse," said Sheff. "As a parent of a child who struggled with a substance addiction, I went through stages of denial and helplessness and felt like giving up on my son, but I couldn't. I hope by sharing my experience in ‘Beautiful Boy' and on the Decoder blog, I'll have the chance to connect with others who have had or are currently having similar experiences with a loved one's drug abuse."