Denial

Addiction in this novel feeds off of denial leading each of the characters further away from empowerment over the habit. For Tyrone and Harry, denial makes them believe that they don't have a problem with drugs. "They realized they didn't have to sweat it so they dipped a little more into the merchandise. They didn't have to get worried about being strung out when they were the connection, not that that was a real problem. They knew they could stop at any time they wanted to. If they should ever want to." (146) The point of denial serves as a crossroad every time the characters move into a new level of addiction.

Tyrone gets a glimpse of his future on drugs in character of the old man in the jail cell. He denies the connection even when he finds himself talking like the old man, almost verbatim. Marion stands...