A personal and brutally honest account of the destructive dynamic that a drug affected and mentally ill father can have on his child. Through Under the Influence, Zachary gives us a sacred peek into his once shattered mind, teaching us that, even against all the odds, a broken mind can not only be healed, but can go on to flourish, inspiring others along the way. From the author: "Under the Influence is the story of my childhood. It provides an insight in to the reality of being the son of an addict, paranoid schizophrenic, chronic hoarder and drug dealer. For as long as I knew him, my dad dealt. Every day, a procession of desperate, malnourished and volatile addicts would visit our house looking to score. From a child's perspective, they seemed to have only one goal—acquiring their next high. Growing up in this environment had a profound impact on my life and world view. I never felt safe."