The author uses his knowledge of the human brain to highlight the importance of “endorphins” during growth and how the lack of chemicals “in childhood and early childhood, [creates a greater need] for external sources” (289) such as drugs. Along with his scientific evidence, Mate also uses the traumatic childhood experiences of many of his patients, such as having “dish soap poured down their throat. . . and was tied to a chair in a dark room to control his hyperactivity” (289). These patients help create an image for readers to understand the feelings and face often faced by drug addicts during their childhood, which makes them feel abandoned and neglected by the rest of the world. Mate also explores the fact that addicts can come from a home where there is no abuse and parents do their best to provide a loving and caring home. The problem in families like this is that often a parent is the one who went through a traumatic experience as a child and is unable to convey adequate love to their child, because they themselves lack the feeling. The author uses the strategy of looking at both the child's and parents' experiences to show that the underlying problem originates from the same outcome, the desire to feel “unconditionally [loved and be] fully accepted even when the most grumpy”