labeouf has described his parents as "hippies", his father as "tough as nails and a different breed of man", and his upbringing as similar to a "hippy lifestyle", stating that his parents were "pretty weird people, but they loved me and i loved them." during his childhood, he accompanied his father to meetings of alcoholics anonymous. labeouf has also said he was subjected to verbal and mental abuse by his father, who once pointed a gun at his son during a vietnam war flashback. labeouf has stated that his father was "on drugs" during his childhood, and was placed in drug rehabilitation for heroin addiction, while labeouf's mother was "trying to hold down the fort."