Along with this, I learned another lesson, a soul-shaking one: our children live or die with or without us…we cannot choose for our children whether they live or die.
-- David Sheff (Introduction)

Importance: David makes this statement in the introduction to emphasize and foreshadow the nature of the personal ordeal he underwent. Throughout the book, David recalls the terrible pain and worry that he felt for Nic, but David ultimately had to accept that he could only do so much for Nic and that excessive worrying was unhealthy.

I…knew about drugs from firsthand experience. So when I warned Nic, I thought I might have some credibility. Many drug counselors tell parents of my generation to lie to our children about our past drug use.
-- David Sheff (chapter 4)

Importance: At multiple points in the book, David discusses events or actions that he fears may have contributed to Nic's drug abuse. One of these possible factors was David...