Clean: A New Generation in Recovery Speaks Out

by Chris Beckman

A former cast member of MTV's Real Chicago, Chris Beckman recounts his journey from addiction to recovery, speaking directly to the concerns of today's how to go out, have fun, and be productive while in recovery, and how to turn away from social pressure to experiment with drugs and alcohol. A New Generation in Recovery Speaks Out also gives parents a realistic look at what's really going on in schools and at the mall - anywhere kids get together.

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2005

Reviews

[Cameron Holmes · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Clean: A New Generation in Recovery Speaks Out, Chris Beckman tells the tragic story of how he abused drugs to get farther away from his life because he did not think he lived up to the expectations of a good Christian boy his parents felt were necessary. Chris first decides to drink because he finds out that he is homosexual and knows his Christian parents do not believe in homosexuality. He hides his feelings toward other men by dating girls and using them to get drugs and alcohol. He goes over to their houses and throws parties when their parents are not home. Chris is a drug addict by this time and knows he is using girls, which he realizes is wrong, but does not care because all he wants is to obtain more narcotics. He is surprised by his parents responses to his homosexuality because they only want him to be happy, and they think his happiness is more important than making him be something he is not. Eventually, Chris finds a man he is attracted to when he is at a bar. When Chris and Brad develop a relationship together, they find themselves using drugs and alcohol very often. This proceeds for a while and Chris realized he liked using drugs more than he loved Brad. At the end of their relationship, Chris had been fighting with Brad a lot. They met up one time after their relationship had ended and had gotten into a physical fight. Chris could not recall how he ended up in jail the morning after and had Brad explain to him that he had gone to his old apartment looking for Brad even though he did not live there. Chris went up to his old apartment, started pounding on the door and four college students called the cops on him. After this event, Chris tells how he kept drinking and finding new drugs to abuse.

I would recommend this book if you are a drug addict or know somebody who is a drug addict. People who are trying to become sober would enjoy this book because it shows how it is possible and can be done. This is a worthwhile read because it gives real life examples of how drugs can affect a person and their health. Drugs affected Chris by making him selfish and not care about how he was using girls and his friends. Chris went to a rave for a few days and had to recover, so he called work to tell them he had gotten a head injury and the doctor said he needed three days off from work. During these three days, he would spend his time smoking marijuana and sleeping. This memoir will show how becoming sober is possible to those who are addicted and want to be clean.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

completely identify on so many levels. wonderful insight into the life and mind of a gay male battling addiction/methamphetamine.