Tweaked By Katherine Holubitsky

There are rarely second chances for meth abusers, the drug defeats 24.7 million people daily; there was no second chance for Chase. The novel Tweaked, written by Katherine Holubitsky, focuses on a character named Gordie and his experiences in his life and his families, with having a meth addicted brother, Chase. Throughout the book, Chase puts his family in very precarious situations with dealers, finances, and everyday life. Everything is miserable but manageable until Chase gets arrested for aggravated assault. With Chase’s parents already worried about getting money for his bail, Chase asks his brother, Gordie for cash that will literally save his back from his dealers, Gordie agrees. Chase takes Gordie’s money, but only repays a portion

Gordie has no trust in Chase to be in his life without being destructive in his and his family’s present lifestyle. This is further elaborated in the situations of Chase running away from Gordie with his money, and Chase stealing and selling Gordie’s guitar. In addition, Gordie no longer thinks of Chase as his brother because their relationship is so distant. Gordie feels this distance because of Chase’s shameful life choices leading up to him being a drug addict and killing Richard Cross. This climaxes to Gordie wishing his brother was dead, a very powerful statement letting a reader know how much Chase’s drug use has affected his life. “I wish Chase was dead. I wish he’d disappear off the face of the earth instead of this-...” (99). In addition, the relationship between Mrs. Jessup and Mr. Jessup subsides into emotional, and physical separation. The emotional separation includes Mr. Jessup and Mrs. Jessup arguing every day and night. ”But it wasn’t murder,”Mom insists.”He didn’t mean to do it. It was the drugs.” That’s no excuse!” argues Dad.” (102). This climaxes further to the physical separation of Mr. Jessup and Mrs. Jessup who after the issue of Chase now live on different floors of the house they live in. “She occupies the upstairs, and Dad and me are down.” (140). At the end of the novel, “Tweaked” , the Jessup parents decide to separate for a period of time to recover and heal from

The negative drug addiction in the novel “Tweaked”, shows a reader how Chase affected life’s potential from his death, his alienation from everything he loves, and how he will never have a future. He also affects Richard Cross’ family by killing a father, husband, and son. The loss of paychecks and future memories that the daughter will never have with her father. In addition Chase and Gordie’s relationship, and the trust it holds has been lost. The status of Chase being a brother has gotten to the point of destruction where Gordie wants him to die. Chase’s parents have difficulty adjusting to the situation they are put in. They regularly argue, and even decide to live on different floors and then separate. Financial security in addition affects Gordie through Chase’s decision to sell his guitar, providing the loss of $2000 to his brother, and has taken away the plane ticket money that his Mom has fueled for Chase’s life on the street. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup have had to sell their house, sports car, and have bad credit due to Chase and his predicament. Humans aren’t invincible to the many dangers in the world including addiction and the problems, that it creates. Don’t try. Don’t Use. Don’t get