Only Mortals Can Be Heroes is the true story of Adam, a teenage boy who fell to drugs when he was only twelve years old.
Told from the point of view of Adam himself, this is an important, frightening account of how young people and their families can be destroyed both emotionally and physically because of drug addiction.
Most of all, the story is about the power of drugs and the way they take control over someone’s will.
- Even though my resolve to change my life was firm, at some level deep in my being I sensed a weakness, as if the conscious part of me were being overtaken by a sinister subconscious force.
Adam first started taking drugs during the seventh and eighth grades. By the time he was twelve, he was already smoking marijuana and drinking beer. This, of course, led to stronger drugs soon enough, and by the time Adam was in his freshman year of high school, he was already experimenting with LSD, Ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, Ritalin, crystal meth, speed balls, pain pills, downers, uppers, and “everything-in-between”.
- With friends around for support, I would do whatever drug was put in front of me. Nothing frightened me.
What is really scary about this book is seeing all Adam does in order to support his addiction: lying, stealing, getting himself almost beaten to death, and going to jail. Yet nothing stops him; nothing is stronger than his desire for drugs no matter what his mind and his heart tell him to do.
- When you’re an addict, every waking moment and half your sleeping moments are occupied with just one thought - how I can get money for dope.
Everything else loses its importance: families, moms and dads, brother and sisters, best friends; everything becomes meaningless except the driving desire for the next high.
Article comments
1 - Clarence Yu
Very interesting to pick up. Thanks for this!