Nic Sheff and his Substance Abuse Disorder Nic Sheff struggled with an addiction to methylphenidates and other drugs that could potentially be addictive. After reading the first 130 pages of his memoir, I believe that Nic would be diagnosed with severe Substance Use Disorder. He suffers from a great number of symptoms that the DSM-5 recognizes as criteria for Substance Abuse. The DSM has 11 diagnostic criteria that a person has to meet in order for their drug use to be a disorder. Because Nic meets more than 6 of these criteria, his disorder is considered severe. The specific criteria that Nic met were: The stimulant is being taken in large amounts and/or over a long period of time, a desire and unsuccessful efforts to control drug abuse, …show more content…
Thus, based on the DSM-5’s diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, Nic Sheff would be diagnosed with severe substance use disorder. Nic consistently used large amounts of heroin and meth, sometimes to the point where he would forget periods of time. For example, when Nic’s tolerance was low after a break from crystal meth, he injected the drug and, “...plunged immediately into a period of about a week where, to this day, [he had] no idea what [he] did.” (19). This fits the first criteria of the DSM-5’s diagnostic criteria for Substance Abuse Disorder, “the stimulant is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was …show more content…
A few times throughout the first half of the book, Nic explains how he feels isolated and lonely due to his drug use. One representation of this characteristic is seen when Nic and Gack are walking through a busy town and enter a record store. When Nic sees the amount of new albums released, he feels, “...so isolated–insulated in this world of scrounging to get money so [he] can buy drugs, to get high, then start all over again” (116). In this case, the recreational activity for Nic would be listening to music. Since he is so caught up in the constant cycle of finding money for drugs and using, he has lost sight of activities important to him. Seeing the number of new music albums proved to him just how much he has lost due to his consistent drug use, and made him feel isolated. Once again, it is the drug use that has caused Nic to decrease his engagement in recreational activities important to
One the largest of these issues, as well as the issue I will be addressing, is addiction. This functions as the major issue within Flemings article The Addict evident by her use of including the word “addict” in the title. The issue of addiction is something that affects many Australians, both indirectly and directly. Many Australians struggle with substance abuse and addiction from their youth when they used alcohol and drugs for a bit of youthful and seemingly innocent entertainment. This recreational use may seem harmless, but this often doesn’t bode well for their future as the tend to spiral downwards and require stronger and more frequent “hits” of the substance.
PO reported using substances to cope with boredom in the past. Isolation and does not have sober support putting her at risk for relapse. To be able to cope with unpleasant emotions in positive ways without restoring old behavior. willingness to stay clean and sober A) PO is to write a page paper and describe what happened the last time she relapsed. Include what you were doing, how you were feeling in the days leading up to relapse, and what you could have done differently to prevent the relapse.
In Tweak:Growing up on methamphetamines by Nic Sheff is a memoir written in the present tense. It takes place between 1990’s and early 2000’s in San Francisco. It recounts his addictions to various drugs, including meth and heroin, and his attempts at recovery as he reaches his early 20s. After 18 months of sobriety, he takes people down a what seems to be never ending spiral that includes an attempt at dealing drugs; hooking up with a vulnerable ex-girlfriend and calling 911 after she overdoses; burglarizing his father's house; sleeping and shooting up in his car; and going back into detox. The whole cycle of rob, score, get high, is finally broken when Nic gets caught breaking into his mother's place.
(Sheff, 5) This shows that Nic had surrendered to his his addiction. Yet, he still consumed drugs to the point that he would let guys have sex with him just so that he can get high. He didn’t care what he did as long as he got high, which is why I believe that using was not a choice, but more of a need for
Be that as it may, these influences also have a negative impact on his life and even facilitate his addictions unintentionally. Some of his experiences with others can create and impose expectations on
Introduction Addiction is a common issue that affects individuals of all ages, races, and genders. In E. Lockhart's novel "We Were Liars," the protagonist, Cadence Sinclair Eastman, suffers from addiction after experiencing a traumatic brain injury. This essay will analyze Cadence's addiction and its impact on her life using quotes from the novel. Body Cadence's addiction to painkillers began after her swimming accident, and it quickly spiraled out of control. She describes the feeling of euphoria and relief that the medication brings, stating, "I have a head full of thorns and a heart that feels like it's being squeezed by a giant's hand.
This portrayal of him highlights the conflicting emotions that addicts struggle with and serves as a poignant reminder to provide a more supportive and understanding environment for those struggling. By addressing this, Vovos shines more light on understanding the disease and makes an essential step in reducing the adverse effects of
It got to the point where Nic was addicted to meth and was on the verge of death if he didn’t seek help. During his addiction, Nic started to run away, and wouldn’t go home for days on end. After his dad went to rescue him one time, he thought to himself “I know every part from watching him and living with him and being so close to him, and yet driving
Throughout Miles Davis’ entire career, he was surrounded with heavy use of alcohol and drugs (most commonly heroin). Charlie Parker, one of Bebop’s finest and also a major influence on the career of Miles Davis was an avid user of heroin which affected his health greatly. In fact, his addiction affected his health so much that Parker sadly passed away at the young age of 35 to health related issues. For several years Davis was heavily involved with the use of heroin and was stuck in a pattern of dependency, making it extremely difficult for him to break his destructive habits. This not only affected his health but it also affected his ability to play music at a high level.
People use these addictions to escape the world they live in, similarly to the way Case has a dependency on drugs. This type of dependency is usually started because people have the feeling of emptiness and are struggling with this feeling, looking for an easy way to feel better. Case was given the opportunity to escape his addiction, but instead Case states, “Thanks, but I was enjoying that dependency” (45). He enjoyed his dependency on drugs and alcohol because it was a form of an escape from his body, a chance to forget about his body slowly deteriorating. As Case gradually weakens he continues to abuse stimulants to help with the loss of energy.
Substance use disorder According to WHO, substance abuse is defined as the consumption of substances that affect the mind in levels that are considered harmful (WHO). Substance abuse covers the abuse of alcohol and drugs such as opioids, amphetamines and cocaine. Substance use disorder is therefore a condition where the use of a substance such as alcohol leads to a severe impairment in one’s ability to be a functional human being. Components of substance use disorder include addiction, dependence and abuse.
On any level. […] In order to keep from shaking to pieces” (131). His reason for using heroin is to forget about what’s happening around him. The heroin he uses makes him feel as if he can survive this world and use it as a distraction. His life around him is constantly having him feel defeated and trapped.
He made new friends with others that introduced him to other drugs and furthered his
David allowed his denial to control him and neglected to take action; which led Nic to try meth since pot no longer affected him. When Nic started to sneak in late disappear for days at one time he knew that it was time for an intervention for himself and Nic. Once Mr. Sheff was able to accept that his son was doing meth he started to do extensive research on the drug meth, families who experienced it with their children, treatments, and rehab clinics. At age nineteen Nic is in and out of rehab centers and David does not know what to do he is at lost for words. He is not capable of understanding how can one be so close to death and not want help.
All these characteristics led to the conclusion that drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use. It is considered as a brain disease because drugs change the structure of the brain, and how it works. Every drug affects different systems of the brain. For example, in the case of cocaine, as the brain is adapted in the presence of the specific drug, brain regions responsible for judgment, decision-making, learning, and memory begin to physically change, making certain behaviors “hard-wired.” In some brain regions, connections between neurons are pruned back.