Alcoholism

The primary theme in Augusten Burroughs' creative nonfiction work, Dry, is Augusten's struggles to confront and overcome his alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease, and those who suffer it frequently drink alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Those who find themselves completely dependent on alcohol sometimes need to use rehabilitation programs to stop drinking, much like Augusten. The first step he needs to take is to admit he has a problem, which he does in rehab. However, for alcoholics, sometimes just stopping drinking isn't enough to keep temptation at bay. Augusten learns this when he stops going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings because he is too busy taking care of Pighead. The temptation eventually gets too great for him, and just before Pighead dies, Augusten relapses and starts drinking again. Alcoholics like Augusten need to use therapy and...