A Tale of Two Survivors

It goes without saying that drug and alcohol abuse have a profound effect on the person afflicted with an addiction -- but what about the families, friends and loved ones surrounding the addict? Nic Sheff was eleven years old when he first got drunk. That one incident led to Nic’s...

By Amber Taufen

January 22, 2009

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

It goes without saying that drug and alcohol abuse have a profound effect on the person afflicted with an addiction -- but what about the families, friends and loved ones surrounding the addict? Nic Sheff was eleven years old when he first got drunk. That one incident led to Nic’s downward spiral, in which he regularly abused pot, cocaine and ecstasy -- and eventually became addicted to heroin and crystal meth. While Nic slowly transformed from the carefree, joyous boy he had once been into the lying, thieving, homeless person he would become, his father, David Sheff, watched the son he loved become a son he barely recognized…but still loved.

Tonight, take advantage of a rare opportunity to hear the same story of addiction told from two different viewpoints. Nic Sheff, who chronicled his journey through relapse and, eventually, recovery in Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines, will appear with David Sheff, who told his own story in Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction. The two Sheffs will appear at the LoDo Tattered Cover, 1628 16th Street, at 7:30 p.m.; they will not be signing books at this appearance, but pre-signed books will be available for purchase. Call 303-436-1070 or visit www.tatteredcover.com for information. If you can’t make it to the Tattered Cover tonight, both Sheffs will be at the Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street in Boulder, tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.; call 303-447-2074 or visit www.boulderbookstore.com. -- Amber Taufen
Wed., Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., 2009

Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

A message from Culture Editor Kristen Fiore: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s vibrant culture and arts scenes.

Support Today