Dequincey 'Confessions of an English Opium Eater"

I really admire how De Quincey exposed his story of his addiction to opium and other faults. Especially during the era he published his book, where personal issues like this were probably seen as unthinkable.
In the beginning of the passage he speaks about his childhood. And emphasizes on his sufferings. He says that he initially started taking opium to ease pain he had in his stomach due to almost what sounds like starvation. He speaks about how his father died and how he was cared by four guardians and went to several different schools. So far it seems like he never really felt in place as a child. He was able to speak Greek, sometimes better than his scholars. “It is a bad thing for a boy to be and to know himself far beyond his tutors, whether in knowledge or in power of mind.”… I think this is such a strong observation of ones self , saying that he thinks it is almost dangerous for him mentally to see himself as almost wiser than his tutors. His nightmares that he documented become dark and his childhood sufferings seem to stand out in his nightmares. It seems like he often makes humorous comments of how bad opium could be for a person .. But he realizes that he still continues to take it and it still eases his pain so he stops himself from believing that it has negative effects.