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Nic is born
On July 20 1982 Nic Sheff is born to loving parents Vicki and David -
Parents divorce
When nick is just three years old his parents, Vicki and David divorce. his mom moves to Los Angeles so nick stays with his father during the school year and his mother during holidays and summer break. this is important because the emotional gaps in Nics childhood may be the reason for his susceptibility to drug use, leading to his addiction later on in life. -
nick is caught with marijuana
David finds a small bag of marijuana in Nics backpack, Nic admits its his, as well as admitting to getting drunk on a past ski trip, he promises to never try drugs again. Nic promising to never do drugs again is seen throughout the novel, but his promises are never kept, Nic goes back to drugs and making these empty promises quickly turns into a manipulation tactic. (page 55) -
Nic gets caught smoking cigarettes
after David smells cigarette smoke on Nic he is confronted and eventually admits to smoking behind the school gymnasium with a couple of his friends. David lectures him and nick promises to never smoke again. (page 47) -
Nic returns from his trip to Paris
nick returns from a three week trip from Paris and his father, David, immediately notices a difference in appearance and overall health. David would later learn this is because of nick abusing alcohol during his time in Paris. This is important because when Nic returned home he couldn't drink anymore, as he was supervised and only 16. This lead him to heavily use marijuana and eventually hard drugs as a substitute (returns page 83, confesses his alcohol abuse page 156) -
Nics senior year
Nic starts skipping classes and drops out of his extracurricular activities. After being confronted by his father Nic admits to using marijuana but is unwilling to stop because he views the drug as harmless. This is a significant event because Nics confidence in his own ability to control drug use and his delusion of being above the harm drugs can cause may be the reason he gets addicted to harder drugs later on. -
Nic starts using other drugs
Nic begins to act reckless and careless, doesn't respond to his fathers threats and punishments, shows up to family events high and begins acting cold and strange, an indication of his future struggle with drug addiction (page 92) -
Nic graduates high school
Nic Graduates high school and is extremely proud of himself, he goes to a party that night and gets home late at night, he ignores his fathers greeting and goes straight to his room. this is significant because it is evident nick was using drugs that night, and hes becoming increasingly distant to his father, David. (Page 91) -
Nic gets arrested
to his families surprise, Two police officers show up and arrest Nic for not showing up to court after he was cited for marijuana possession. This event is significant because Nics family now knows he isn't being honest with them, and his secretive lifestyle is getting him into trouble. -
Nic steals from home
Nic steals cash, food and a case of wine from his house and disappears. two days later he returns and his father grounds him, Nic swears and lashes out, saying that he deserves to party, and that he is tried of everyone trying to control him. This event is significant because it shows Nic will go to extreme lengths to abuse alcohol and drugs, even to the extent of harming his own family (page 93) -
Nic tries crystal meth
Nic suddenly disappears, leaving David in a constant state of anxiety, worry and fear. four days later Nic calls David and tells him where to pick him up. David finds his son in a weakened, unhealthy state in an alleyway and Nic admits to doing methamphetamine, Nic is immediately hooked and begins down the path of lies and manipulation which eventually puts Nic and his family in a Seemingly inescapable living hell. (page 103)