Coralville Library Nonfiction Group discussion

If you don't have time to read the whole of David Sheff's book, you can cruise through the article he wrote first.

If you've read either the book or the article, what did you think?

You can also read reviews of both the Sheffs' books here and here.

I read the article. As a parent, very heartwrenching and as the sister of a brother with mental health and addiction issues, I definitely understand some of the emotions that go through the people in the periphery of the addicted. Frustration and sorrow over not knowing how to help, anger at the volatile nature of the addict, helplessness and then detachment in order to protect your own mental health. When do you finally have to admit that there really isn't anything you can do beyond continuing to treat them as a human being, even when they are not really behaving as one, and making sure they know you are there if they do decide they want to try to get help?