''New York Times'' writer David Sheff discovers his teenage son Nicholas is missing, and two days later, he reappears in their home. Seeing obvious signs of drug use, David takes Nic to a rehab clinic. Progress is made, and Nic requests to be transferred to a halfway house, where there is less security, and free time is given outside of a facility, to which David and Nic's doctors agree. Days later, however, Nic does not return home, and David finds him in the streets.