Pubdate: Mon, 22 Aug 2005
Source: Newsweek (US)
Copyright: 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.msnbc.com/news/NW-front_Front.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/309
Author: Joel Stevens
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1226/a03.html

THE METH SCOURGE

Ten years. That's how long I've been clean from methamphetamine, and it 
still haunts me. Ten years later I still refuse to take cold medicines 
containing pseudo-ephedrine. Ten years later I still think about the high. 
My story is no different from thousands of others': at the conclusion of my 
addiction, I had dropped from 190 to 140 pounds and was beginning to look 
like a walking skeleton. While the sex was great when I was just starting 
meth, later in my addiction I was unable to perform. While I avoided most 
of the side effects of the drug--the pockmarked face, missing teeth and a 
diminishing hairline--what meth did to me mentally, emotionally and 
physically is undeniable. Many users of meth have had bad childhood issues, 
or are involved in a situation they wish they were rid of: a bad 
relationship, poverty or underemployment. Meth makes all the bad go away 
due to its effect on the body's dopamine receptors. I didn't care about my 
problems, my family issues or my relationships. In the end, I didn't care 
about myself. I remember feeling at the time that if I shot too much meth 
and ended up in a fatal overdose, that would be just fine by me. How did I 
stop? I just decided that I didn't like where my life was heading, and I 
went on one last binge. After chasing that last ultimate high for three 
days, I realized that I was never going to attain it and put the needle 
down for good. But it haunts me to this day. All I need is just one more hit.

Joel Stevens--via internet 
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MAP posted-by: Beth