Check out Part One and Part Two of the Crystal Meth Series of posts.
For those that might think that Meth is just another drug, here’s some evidence to the contrary and some articles on Meth from different popular media stories. This is why the ADHD Meth connection is so important to deal with, the consequences of ignorance can be devastating.
Here are some Faces of Meth. First, Theresa Baxter, before using Meth
Here’s Theresa after 3 years and 5 months later after using Meth.
The Oregon Live has a photo gallery with more here.
Here’s a video that tells shows the before and after pictures of some crystal meth users from the faces of meth.
One of our local papers the Vancouver Province did a weeklong series on Meth, very interesting articles, gives many viewpoints, but no mention of ADHD. They’ve deleted the main section but here’s one article from that series, which discusses the impact of Meth on a user.
Dr. Bill MacEwan, a psychiatrist who heads up the University of B.C.’s Schizophrenia program, and the Psychosis program at St. Paul’s hospital says Meth is more addictive than cocaine and more psychologically damaging than heroin. Meth has been even known to induce schizophrenia.
“After extended use, the brain actually begins to require the drug in order to release the dopamine. No drug, no pleasure. Then there’s the intense craving for more, brain cell death, paranoia, hallucinations and psychosis…the cognitive impairment as a result of fried brain circuitry can last a lifetime”
“The flipside is that after extended use, the brain actually begins to require the drug in order to release the dopamine. No drug, no pleasure. Then there’s the intense craving for more, brain cell death, paranoia, hallucinations and psychosis.”
There’s an 18-minute video, Death By Jib, that interviews Meth addicts and their stories, pretty raw, designed to be shown in schools. Here is a trailer
To buy a copy, call 1-800-263-6910, or go to Kinetic Video.
She was so pretty, and then eww, meth really messes with your body. im doing a project in school for my english class, and ive never known anyone to end up looking that bad after meth. but the one person i kno who does meth i dont see often enough to see a big change. dont do meth….keep your body healthy
Crystal Meth seems to be a very terrible drug. Then why do people use it?
probably the same reasons people use other drugs i’d guess. Heroin and crack cocaine are also terrible drugs and people keep using them too. might want to check these out for some reasons
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Published_Articles/Sally.html
http://www.request.org.uk/issues/topics/drugs/drugs03.htm
http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/theordrg.html
I just read Ellen Hopkins Crank and the sequel Glass. Meth is an absolutely terrible drug. Infact all drugs are.
Save yourself before you looser yourdelf.
I am a substance abuse counselor in a prison and and a large per centage of my clients screen positively for ADD. Which should not be all that surprising, that those who self-medicate ADD with meth should run afoul of the law. Is there any special support group for Ex-offenders with ADD? Also it seems to be a tremendous waste of money,lives and resources to incarcerate those with ADD when perhaps simply proper medication and a support group could provide real and immediate rehabilitation.
JWR
That women’s image has been used over and over again to portray the height of abuse. Seems to be a tool used to create shock factor. I’ve known a number of hard-core users, whome have not turned out to resemble anything like that photo.
The point of this thread is to discuss why illicit use is synonemous with ADHD. The question is, are ADHD people attracted to METH because it’s an aid for undiagnosed ADHDer’s??
Hi Greg,
not every meth user will turn out looking like that, but she’s not the only one that does, it’s part of a series of before and after photos of other people who used meth.
I’d argue that they do, meth is a stimulant, Adults with ADHD are treated with prescription stimulants which are safer than meth and aren’t made using ingredients like drano etc. Many meth addicts are using meth to self medicate. Because society can’t/won’t be bothered to make ADHD diagnosis and treatment more of a priority. Their cost of ignoring people with ADHD is higher taxes, higher crime, property loss, death, injury etc.
Greg/All I’m a recovering addict(21 years clean) I see the effects of meth every week and it’s true that not all methheads turn out like theresa, but many do, it depends how far their addiction has progressed.
I’ve seen this image many times before but did not know until tonight that this woman is a person I knew in high School. I broke down when I found out who she is…I KNEW HER! Theresa was such a fun person! Zany, funny! This is such a shame.
Within each drug’s given user population, there will be addicts that are higher functioning than others, and you might never know they were users or even addicts. Also, just because some of the meth is made cheaply with household cleaning products does not mean it all is.
We need to realize that the crime associated with most drugs is a direct result of their illegality – prices are high because of the black market, so those addicts with tight funds feel compelled to steal in order to pay for the drug that helps them function physiologically, mentally, emotionally, etc.
The answers are rarely simple…
I have actually known few people addicted to meth ( most are sober and clean now ) but it does screw with your thinking, the way you look, act, etc…. It is one of the worst drug addictions ever, not to say crack or herion are not. My older sister was actually addicted, and lost custody of her newborn son, did rehab and did get him back at age 1, only to lose him again when she had a relapse, ( i ended up adopting him ) and tho she is sober, her mind is messed up from the drug use. Yes, not all meth addicts turn up looking like Theresa, but alot do.
People use drugs simply because they want to feel better than they currently do. It works for a while, but the brain begins to develop a tolerance, which requires the user to use more to get the same feeling. Hence addiction. The sneaky side of addiction is like a trap door opening. The user is willing to dance on the trap door for a while, using socially, then the brain adapts and whamo, the trap door opens. The user then is required to keep using, just to function or feel normal. The problem is no one can ever know who is predisposed to the trap door and no one ever sees it coming. You’ll never know if you’re an addict until it’s gotcha. It’s a long hard road back to a “new normal” being abstinent. It’s even more work to experience a quality recovery. Some never get there, it can be too painful to live drug free and some are forever a prisoner to misery and life becomes a constant struggle. That’s the best that meth can bring.
My daughter and her boyfriend are hooked on Meth and it’s tearing me apart. They have lost their children and I’m lost on what to do. She went to rehab for a month but went right back to him and the drugs. What is a mother to do? I’m so worried sick about her.
Drugs will be the undoing of America, and the West’s reign as the dominant superpower. Like the fall of the Roman Empire, history always repeats.
I used meth in high school, didn’t know I had ADD until my late 20s. And in hindsight, I have realised that the reason it was so attractive was because it ‘fixed’ me.
I used it because it allowed me to feel normal and allowed me to connect with people… I could hang out. It also helped me study, obsessively taking detailed notes and earning great grades. As well, I lost weight and felt better about my body (oh so important as a teen.) The biggest strength from using meth was motivation to do anything — no task was boring.
It wasn’t until college that I realized that it was more trouble than it was worth, as I needed to juggle more responsibilities and couldn’t risk ‘come down’ or ‘strung out’ days. Luckily, I don’t get addicted to anything and was able to drop it as soon as it inconvenienced me.
The ADHD connection is very strong, I can’t wait for more research to be done. Thanks for your article!
Brett Stafford, drugs will only be the undoing of America if it insists on blindly continuing its deplorable “War on Drugs”. Drugs have been a part of human history from time immemorial. It is schizophrenic to try to eliminate a fundamental facet of the human condition. And it is just too bad that America and assorted copycats keep burying their heads in the sand in the face of the irrefutable evidence that the only result of this madness is to destroy ever more individuals lives through untreated addiction and incarceration. The same people who, if they could manage their drugs legally through appropriate protocols could contribute much to society instead of costing it so much. Likewise, if drugs were decriminalised, Banana republics like Mexico and Colombia would not be failed states – their drug production for pharmaceutical companies would still play an important part in a legal economy, but the more realistic trading prices would make it feasible for the countries to look at other commodities to trade as well.
It is America’s war on drugs and similar thinking that will ensure the spread of its bankruptcy in three ways: morally for its political and financial elite, monetarily for the economy, and culturally in terms of human resource.
In this way your example of Rome is fitting, except for the drugs ofcourse. lol. not.
Good day All,
I also am a previous meth user diagnosed with ADHD.
I feel that the comorbidity with Conduct Disorder may be a skewed representation.
I was provided a psychological assessment only after being off meth for some time, nearly a year free from ALL substances. If I had answered the questionnaire which would have diagnosed me with conduct disorder while I was still using Meth I would have scored very high on the conduct disorder scale.
With my not using for a year, actively participating in a 12 step program, and as they say, ‘changing everything’, I scored high for ADHD but not conduct disorder.
When I was doing what I had to do to get my next hit, yes I lied, yes I broke many laws, but this was not ‘Me’, the ADHD is a part of me, the conduct disorder was Not.
A little tid bit to ADD!
🙂
Hello i have a undiagnosed ADHD condition and i found my first escape through marijuana then was not able to stop for 7 years till i found meth i barely realized the reason for all my stupidity and impulsiveness was adhd something i never thought i had and also had the impression was only a children’s disease my discovery instantly explained my whole life i was relieved but now even knowing I’m stuck in a hard place as ive been self medicating with meth for a year and without insurance to see a Dr i just don’t know what to do only recently stopped using but still in the struggle day to day of why bother even quitting. Yet i have a son who seems to have adhd far worse than mine and i cannot let him live life like me just not knowing and always wondering why he feels so different.
having children often is a very strong motivator to improve yourself Ryan. Maybe go to narcotics anonymous, some go daily for a month and find a local adhd support group near you to learn about the adhd side of the equation, start your search for the latter here
http://addcoach4u.com/support/addsupportgroupresources.html
maybe have a look at my adhd and addictions section for more info
http://addcoach4u.com/addandaddictionsartic.html
If you improve your life it will help his life.
good luck
My son went to New Mexico to help a sick dad. His dad was mixed up with drugs and alcohol. My son never used anything,now he is on drugs and alcohol .I think its both. I miss him so much. I love him so much.I’m in the middle of it all .I have a bad heart and my health isn’t good we are 1800 miles apart. His dad died ,and haven’t been able to get him home ,money and his lying to me breaks my heart.. What should I do? I’ve spent so much money.
That’s too bad Judy, there is al anon for family members of alcoholics, maybe there’s something like that for families of drug addicts where you could go for advice? or see a therapist who specializes in helping family members of addicts.
Hi Mr Quily, Are there any articles that you know of investigating the affects of using marijuana as a young ADD sufferer. I have a friend that allows her 13 year old son to smoke pot to calm him down. I am having trouble locating any information on the outcomes of such drug use to aid this condition. It is my assumption that this is not a suitable treatment of this condition however I am having problems finding any information on the subject.
Chelle
tobacco, booze, pot and every illegal drug besides hallucinogens boost dopamaine, which we adders are short of. So it can help us slow down and focus and get stuff done, but ideally you want to avoid unhealth sources of dopamine and use healthy sources of dopamine, exercise, adhd meds, hobbies you like, work you like, sex, music, art, being kind to others to boost dopamine. Some adders can become psychologically addicted to pot and it can make executive functions, working memory and motivation, all impaired with adhd, even worse.
Also if you’re smoking pot and try adhd meds they won’t work, you have to get the pot out of your system first.
Also if you have any bipolar, schizophrenia or psychosis in the family tree, pot nowadays has such high concentration of THC it can trigger psychosis.
And we’re not even talking other drug often added to pot, let along getting arrested, jail, risk of using other drugs, damage to the growing brain etc.
But because of gov’s past “reefer madness” on pot (smoke one joint and you’ll rob a bank), many people who tried pot occasionally refuse to believe anything bad about pot, stay in denial no matter what evidence you provide and they are the flip side of the reefer madness coin, they are the the “pot is magic” crowd.