The Belo Mansion hosted the 28th annual breakfast for the Chemical Awareness Resouces and Education (CARE) organization, which provides assistance for struggling families and individuals overcoming substance abuse.
During the morning event, executive director Pam Blankenship invited honorary chairman Terry Bentley Hill to the stage before introducing the keynote speakers, father-son duo David Sheff and Nic Sheff.
David, renowned journalist and author, shared his experience coping with his son's methamphetamine addiction. "If you think your child is doing something they shouldn't, they are," he said. Guests were deeply impacted as he recounted the story behind his No. 1 New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction.
Later, Nic talked about his dark days smoking and drinking at a very young age and the addiction to drugs that followed. He shared his struggle with trying to quit and the scary relapse that forced him into making a drastic life change.
Nic's journey— and memoirs Tweak and We All Fall Down — greatly resonate with CARE and the kinds of individuals they assist.
Among those touched by the Sheffs' story were chairman Anne Besser, Bob White, Cara Gravely, Carla Calabrese, Jim Hess, Rebecca Brown, Kate Alpert, Peter Boeschenstein, Ken Osean, Carolyn Laurence, Sheryl Pidgeon and Barbara Hunt Crow (who also hosted the sponsor party).
