David Sheff

“The rest of the world may devour Japanese hardware - from Honda Civics to Sony Walkmans - but Japanese software, such as books, movies and recordings, has had little impact outside Japan. The exception is video games.”

“This idea that some kids have now in some communities that if they haven't filled out their college resumes by the time they're 12, they are going to fail in life, it's a lot of stress on kids.”

“Though addiction is a disease - a brain disease that's often progressive - addicts who relapse are often blamed.”

“Kids love the 'Mario Brothers' games, which are whimsical, inventive and lots of fun.”

“I have my limited skills as a journalist and a father, and the journalist part is really part of my mindset, to use my skills to try to solve problems.”

“Certain people are more likely to use drugs because of whatever it is: They've suffered some trauma in their life. They have risk factors like mental illness, people with learning disabilities, with attention problems.”

“Having been hit by drug addiction, knowing how many are hit by it and what a big problem it is in our neighborhoods and our culture, I feel a responsibility to do something. I can see what's wrong with the system - that we have to recognize mental illness as we do cancer or broken bones - and how we need to make it better.”

“No, I don't believe in tough love. I just believe in love.”

“I was ashamed. My son is a drug addict. What does this mean about me?”

“Every relapse is dangerous, but often it takes multiple relapses before someone finally gets sober for good.”

“So many times in the middle of an interview I've had people say, 'Can we go off the record?'”

“Relapse is very dangerous. However, relapse can be a symptom of the disease. Sometimes there are multiple relapses before you get sober and stay sober.”

“Well, addiction does start with a choice.”

“I don't object to AA at all - only the programs that insist that it's the only way to get clean and to stay clean.”

“Like most people I knew, I thought drug addicts were the kinds of people we see in doorways in neighbourhoods most of us try to avoid - people obviously strung out, often homeless and possibly psychotic. I didn't think my son could become addicted, but he had.”

“But I sent letters to people in the music business. And one day I got a phone call from somebody and he asked me when I was born and where I was born. And, you know, three or four days later I got a call. Someone said, you know, Yoko Ono wanted to meet me in New York. I got on a plane. And the next day I was having coffee with John Lennon.”

“There isn't just one way to get healthy and sober and to stop using.”

“Everybody tells you over and over again that addiction is a disease. But when I read Nic's book I understood not just that this is a disease, but what the disease means.”

“I came home one day and Nick was in his bedroom reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and the tears were just flowing down his cheeks, at the terrible injustice that was being described in that book and the bravery of fighting against it.”

“When I was a child, my parents didn't know anything about drugs. They didn't even drink.”