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The "Other" Faces Of Meth

 

Just about everyone who has researched the meth phenomenon has probably come across "Faces Of Meth."   This is a collection of pictures by the Sheriff's Office in Multnomah County, Oregon, that show the stark and disturbing reality of what methamphetamine does to a human being's face, given enough time. . And we know that "Faces Of Meth" was done with good intention, produced by responsible, caring people, and no doubt it has created some positive outcomes and woken people up (especially kids) to the reality of using methamphetamine.  But we wonder at what cost to both the people in the pictures and to society?

You see, as much as we feel meth is a horrible drug and it's common knowledge that meth can make people do horrible things (as all addictions can,) we don't think becoming a meth addict should condemn a person to becoming a "poster-boy" or "poster-girl" for meth addiction for the rest of their life.

We're sure that some of these people want and deserve to get on with their life and begin anew.  And having their picture on hundreds of web sites that are cashing in on the shock value certainly would make that difficult both for them, and whatever other family and loved ones they have.  There are now countless sites, books, handouts and even billboards with these pictures on them.  In fact, there are even joke sites that are using them as well.  Is that fair?  We don't think so.  What chance do you have for re-entering society when three out of ten people recognize you as a "face of meth?"

Shock Value Is Short-lived

Secondly, we know that seeing a pathetic looking addict or alcoholic has a certain shock value, but as we said earlier, it doesn't last and it's not truly an accurate, overall picture of what an addict or alcoholic is.  The truth is, someone laying passed out in the gutter is about as representative of a typical alcoholic, as a body-builder is representative of the typical male physique.  Frankly, if you want to see a picture of the typical alcoholic, just look around, because they're everywhere and most of them look completely normal.

And while meth is most certainly one of the harshest addictions and can consume someone entirely very fast, we personally know meth addicts who have jobs, who don't have sores all over their face, and aren't hiding behind their couch from "shadow people."  Meth affects everyone differently, and while there are no positive outcomes from using meth long-term, not every meth addict looks like a "Face Of Meth."

What's more, when you see "The Other Faces Of Meth," something else becomes rather obvious.  The multi-billion dollar meth trade does not survive on "low-bottom" addicts alone.  There is another user group that is far more wide-ranging and much harder to identify.  And as you'll see, these people could very well be sitting beside you at a little league baseball game.  For that matter, they could be the coach.

So see for yourself if these people fit the image you typically have of a methamphetamine user, cook, or trafficker.  (Names, if they appeared in the headline or story, have been removed.)  Take your time and read the descriptions closely - because these people are as much a part of the meth phenomenon anyone else.  And they're on the next page.

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