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A Common Pattern Within A Systemic Problem

Frankly, if you know some of the stories behind the people on the preceding page, you see a pattern that's always underlying the meth problem.  People with low self-esteem and self-worth, people who are trying to keep pace within their social group, people for whom meth, like all drugs, solves a problem deep within them.  In the words of Lennon and McCartney, it's "something inside that was always denied."

So these are not all bad people, they're people who got caught up in meth's web - that's all.  And if they're given a chance, and they're given quality tools in a proper and appropriate program of recovery to re-claim their lives, they'll go back to being the productive members of society they likely once were. 

So Let's Call A Spade A Spade - Meth Does What It Promises To Do

The sad truth is, even though meth is a temporary solution, and even though it's ultimately going to destroy you, many people today still see it as a way of solving a problem or addressing a need.  Too much to do - too little time to do it in - not enough energy to keep up, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, a heightened libido - meth promises to fix all these problems.  And let's be perfectly honest - in the beginning - it does!

So it is what it is - a fast, cheap, and artificial short-cut to what many people today want, or feel they absolutely need.  And while awareness and prevention must be the spearheads of a drug strategy, we can't lose sight of the fact that meth addiction, like all addiction, is evidence of the systemic problems in society today.  And until we educate people, teach them problem-solving and coping skills, and begin looking at their substance abuse problem holistically, we're always going to have a steady supply of meth addicts and addicts in general to deal with.  You can't just treat the drug use - you have to treat someone's drug use within the context of their entire life and as a part of the entire constellation of their needs.

And if history has taught us anything, it's that in the long term, you can't scare people away from drugs.  And that's because for some people, the reality they live in psychologically, and/or physically day-in and day-out is every bit as scary, hopeless, and distasteful as drug addiction ends up being.  In fact there's strong research to suggest that particularly for younger people, the "danger label" on the drug becomes a part of the allure.

What You Can't See Is Always More Dangerous

So in our opinion, the most potentially harmful meth addict is not the person with the wild eyes, uncombed hair and "jib sores" all over their face and arms.  When most of us encounter a person like that, we move to the other side of street.  But perhaps what should cause us at least equal concern are the meth addicts we can't easily see - the ones that we've entrusted with positions of power and responsibility.  As you can see from the descriptions above, obviously some of these people were executing critical duties under the influence of an incredibly powerful and emotionally corrosive drug.

As one person observing the meth situation put it, "We're no longer dealing with the stereotypical drug user, who was socially and economically disenfranchised and in a way, highly visible and identifiable.  Now it's also mainstream people trying to achieve or maintain levels of success, wealth and prosperity.  It almost mirrors what happened with cocaine.  And we better hope that methamphetamine isn't allowed to follow that same path because that's going to be a problem of unimaginable proportions."

And Where Do We Draw The Line?

So if we're going to specifically demonize and vilify meth users with the "Faces Of Meth," in fairness shouldn't we also have "Faces Of Rape?" "Faces Of Spousal Abuse?"  "Faces Of Pimps?" and "Faces Of Child Predators?"  Frankly, we find these other crimes far more repugnant than someone who had the misfortune of becoming addicted to a drug.  Clearly, the list could go on forever, and if we allow it to, it will.

On the next page, we'll have a look at "meth registries," a relatively new concept that more and more jurisdictions are considering and some are actually adopting.  We think this is something that has to be looked at carefully as well, because it could be another case of us "shooting ourselves in the foot."

 

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