Author |
Message |
Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:03 am
Pretty scary stuff. Here's the link: Faces of Meth
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 8:12 am
The physical changes that result from meth use really are quite amazing. Ones body just seems to deteriorate because of the neglect and drug use. Very scary stuff indeed.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 10:01 am
wow!!!
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Mayajnn
Member
01-27-2006
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 10:07 am
I bet they had no idea the physical toll meth would have on them when they starting using it. It's so sad.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 10:54 am
I find it very sad that these biased sites come out, and do not give the whole story about various drugs, and crystal meth is NOT as bad as some right-wing groups would like us to believe. As with many illegal drugs, the negative side effects are often more related to the criminalization of the drug and the resulting lifestyle, rather than the chemical properties of the drug itself. Don't believe everything you hear. The arguments of these sites are flawed. A lot of post hoc er go.... crap.
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 11:56 am
Wow, Eeyore. As a health care professional who receives a lot of information on this subject, I couldn't disagree with you more. Sites like this exist because it is a HUGE, real problem. This ad isn't today's "Reefer Madness" (hysteria over little).
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:04 pm
I disagree as well Eeyore ... crystal meth is a HUGE, horrible problem that tears apart families and destroys lives. And I believe the more we know about this awful drug the better.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:07 pm
Eeyore you make an interesting argument. So you're saying the physical effects of drug use and abuse aren't as big of an issue? If so then I'm going to have to disagree with you on that.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:08 pm
I am just stunned. This isn't 'just a little pot', crystal meth is a horrible, horrible drug. I don't think anyone can over exaggerate how terrible it is. Would you think it was 'not that bad' if it was a member of your family who was using?
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:15 pm
Hyperbole is never the right way to educate peope--because it backfires. But, I gotta tell you, their faces are testimony enough for me. ETA: Well, Eeyore sent me reading, because, like my parents about marijuana, I have believed the horror about Meth since I've watched 20-20 and Primetime stories about the tragedy it wreaks. And I see that some people are immediately 'mentally' addicted while others are not. However, I also read that ER statistics are rising dramatically from its use.
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:20 pm
The faces are shocking but I can only imagine the stories behind the faces. It scares me to think of it. I wouldn't wish a meth addiction on my worse enemy!
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:32 pm
I just invite you to have someone take crystal meth in a clean, nurturing environment, with tons of food and a healthy living environment, where they do not have to also worry about obtaining the drug (unlimited supply). I'm saying the criminalization causes the drug to go into the black market, which causes the price to go up, and creates all sorts of drastic means to their end. One needs to make money for the drug, so all other things go out the window, like food, hygeine, etc. I'm just sayin' if the drug was legal, the price would go down (no longer paying for the criminal risk), and people would be free to take the drug in more sterile, comfortable environments. You wouldn't see this weight loss, facial picking, etc going on. Crystal meth is molecularly IDENTICAL to Desoxyn, which is a commonly prescribed drug for ADHD. Why aren't those users looking like those pictures?
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Yellek
Member
08-22-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:32 pm
I tried it once in college. I always was the one who tried to take care of and look after others who were out of control, even when I was partying myself. I didn't like the fact that I felt in control enough to take a knife away from someone that shouldn't have been playing with it, and only realized the next day that I had taken it by grabbing the blade, cutting my finger almost to the bone. Felt NOTHING. That was enough to make me never try it again. That said, I'm against meth use, but I'm also curious whether those photos depict the effect of the drug use itself, or the result of how they have to live in order to continue their habit.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:44 pm
The drug ITSELF does not cause those problems. It does help with weight loss, but like I said before, it is IDENTICAL to an over the counter medication called Desoxyn which, because it is legal, doesn't produce users that look like the ones on that site.
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Imbewitched
Member
03-08-2002
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 12:59 pm
So I have to ask, is Desoxyn made with drain cleaner and/or lye?
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:03 pm
"Another thing to note when talking about the differences in the amphetamine-class stimulants is that one of the strange effects of current culture is that particular drugs are demonized in the news, entertainment media, government information, and school curricula. Methamphetamine is particularly demonized, amphetamine somewhat less so, even though amphetamine-related stimulant drugs -- including methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine), & methamphetamine (Desoxyn) -- are commonly prescribed for children from as young as age 3. All three of these can lead to difficult-to-break habits and can become a problem for some people who try them. But the marketing teams of the pharmaceutical companies do what they can to soothe parents' concerns by separating the image of street-speed users from the clean, clinical, healthy use of their products." Taken from Erowid.org an unbiased educational site on all sorts of drugs. Before attacking it, read all of the About Erowid questions. There are some great sources there, from refereed medical/educational publications, and the site does not affiliate itself with any biased organization. My professor (who has actually been on Oprah - LOL) recommends it.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:08 pm
Why would I know what Desoxyn is made from? Plain and simple, they are chemically identical. Just because one company does it behind closed doors and you don't KNOW the chemical ingredients, doesn't mean they are different. You can't imply that they are different just because one is made from weird cleaning and over the counter chemicals. The truth hurts. People have figured out how to make a normal prescription drug, with household chemicals. That doesn't mean the product is any different from the legal version of the drug. There are different routes to the same destination.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:22 pm
My son took Ritalin, a drug closely related to methamphetamine, for his ADD for a few years. But you have to consider that his meds were carefully titrated for his use. Some sites I found interesting: Tips for Teens Frontline: The Meth Epidemic The Lone Meth Ranger Healing Our Island A Meth User Speaks Out Narcanon
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:37 pm
Desoxyn isn't sold over the counter in the US is it?
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:37 pm
It's not the titration of the meds Herkilicious, it's how they are ingested. I did my term paper this year on Ritalin abuse in college students, which is a growing problem. Ritalin pills taken orally, take about 2 hours to show any effects; this is how children with ADHD take them. On the other hand, many college students crush up Ritalin pills, and snort them. Snorting effects happen between 6-8 minutes. The addiction happens with how the dopamine receptors are filled. Something about tonic vs. phasic dopamine firing. One leads to addiction, one doesn't. It's all in how you take the drug, as to what effects are felt.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:38 pm
No, Desoxyn is by prescription only.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:39 pm
Right drug abuse.
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Tigerfan
Member
11-06-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:43 pm
Eeyore, you're scaring the crap out of me! I hope you don't honestly feel or think that way about Meth.. I'm not proud of the fact that I'm a recovering addict. ( I used on and off for over 11 yr.'s) I haven't used in 8 yr.'s. I would not wish this drug on my worst enemy!! I come from a clean, sterile, upper middle class background. I looked like those pictures at my worst times with the drug. After going 3 days with no sleep and little food (you dont want to eat when on it) you feel like bugs are crawling on your skin, you scratch and pick at yourself. You spend alot of time in front of the mirror looking for the smallest zit, blackhead, in-grown hair, anything, and you will pick at it until you've made a mess of your face, chest, arms, legs... You spend all of your money buying more because when you come down it is the worst feeling, and each time you need just a little more to get 'up' where you were before. It is a deadly, vicious cycle. I've gone to jail for an overnighter as a result of this drug, it makes you aggressive and abusive. I've seen it being 'cooked', they use everything from lye, drain cleaner and 7 different ingredients known to be found in rat poison. This drug is truly becoming an epidemic. I thank God every day for giving me the strength to overcome it. Until you've been down this horrible road, dont tell me it's as safe as a diet pill!!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:45 pm
Well, you're right, Eeyore, but it was trial and error while being titrated. The first trial, he fell asleep at his desk, the next, he did a little better, the next was perfect--til he grew some. But I do understand the speed with which a drug gets into the bloodstream is critical, too. For example, my doc tells me to buy Caltrate (calcium pills) because of how fast it gets into the bloodstream--before stomach acid can destroy it.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, April 07, 2006 - 1:48 pm
Wow, Tiger, that was the best argument I've heard . . . from someone we know here. Thanks for sharing that and congratulations on your achievement. I hope it isn't something that continues to beckon you. Life is hard enough . . .
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