The Faces of Meth

[JR719]

phildirt,

In southern Oklahoma there is an ex-fireman that killed a Hiway Patrol Officer. His trial is beginning.

[ADBtie]

Originally posted by JR719
phildirt,

In southern Oklahoma there is an ex-fireman that killed a Hiway Patrol Officer. His trial is beginning.

Lawton

[otolith]

Originally posted by joeychitwood
Here are a few other good reasons to avoid the field:

Sociopaths and psychopaths.
Night shifts.
Weekends.
Holidays.
Prima donna specialists (except for Wolverine and otolith)
Dead kids.
And finally, no one is ever happy to come and see us.

Fortunately, there are the good things like......like.....uh..... Oh joy, I have to go do my Fishing Opener weekend night shift now.

Thanks, Joey. Hopefully I wouldn't change that if you actually had to consult me...so you'll have to ask RJ or KK about me.


Those pics scare the crap out of me...I can't believe how much it could negatively affect one's life. Really sad.

[Pike]

Fortunately, there are the good things like......like.....uh..... Oh joy, I have to go do my Fishing Opener weekend night shift now.


Fish hooks in eyelids & ears? No sweat!

Anyone here ever watch HBO's "Life on the Street"? That is some very eye-opening stuff. Many of their subjects redefine "fiend" whenever I see a new episode.

I learned about meth 5 years ago from a coworker from E. St. Louis, MO. He was an ex-tweaker & had some horrifying stories, but what was really scary, was when we'd be driving along & he'd point out an old house or trailer a bit off the road. "Back home, that would be a great place to set up." He explained the nazi meth/fleapowder method to me in 5 minutes. Seriuosly, it sounded like I could be cooking in 2 hours.

God I hope this stuff stays away from my town & the cops here keep on doing what ever they are doing to keep it at bay.

[wizardgus®]

Emotionally I agree with much of what has been said relative to no sympathy for these people. Intellectually I know it is far more complex than that.

We live in a country that for all the saber rattling of our officials, society has given a tacit wink and a nod to recreational drug use. And until meth it has usually been something you could have a fling with and walk away.

I am no stranger to drugs. I've always said if you remember the Sixties...you weren't there. I used to check the Physicians Desk Reference for accuracy. BUT in all the years and all the drugs and drug users I've known, I've never seen anything that owns its user so completely nor so quickly. It's fast, total and devastating.

One thing I learned the hard way, once a friend is hooked on this stuff, they are gone. Don't trust them or turn your back on them.

A few notes of clarification. First the 1 percenters did not exist in the 50s. Not sure of the notoriety for distribution in the early days, but now days many of the biker clubs (or gangs if you prefer) are cleaning house on this one. The central thing these clubs are about is brotherhood; duty, honor and respect within. A tweaker can't live by those rules and is viewed as a liability.

[kbmdale]

Originally posted by Freed
I used(past tense) cocaine, mary jane, opium, hash. Walking away from cocaine was the hardest thing to do that I have ever experienced. If meth is worse than that I hope no one I know will ever try it. I still think about coke every once in a while but I know if I ever use it again I will not have enough in front of me to keep me satisfied. It grips you like glue and you can't put it down if you have it in arms reach.

Freed is ABSOLUTELY 100% dead on...I myself had a coke problem that started when I was 15 and ended when i was 19. Im 25 now, clean for 6 yrs. There isn't a Day that goes by that I dont think about it at least once. Then I look at my BEAUTIFUL boys (4yrs & 6mos) and everything is right in my world again. Keep this thread going, its great!
Bree

[Muttling]

Originally posted by wizardgus

A few notes of clarification. First the 1 percenters did not exist in the 50s. Not sure of the notoriety for distribution in the early days, but now days many of the biker clubs (or gangs if you prefer) are cleaning house on this one. The central thing these clubs are about is brotherhood; duty, honor and respect within. A tweaker can't live by those rules and is viewed as a liability. [/B]

The old style gangs in general don't function that well in today's society. Our law enforcement methods have gotten pretty good a penetrating the well organized groups that have a centralized leadership.

It's the loosely organized groups that now find success both on the organized crime front and the international terrorism front. They have more trouble controlling their own ranks, but it's far more difficult for us to isolate the leadership and target them since the leadership really doesn't hold command-control. They're operations aren't as efficeint, but they're far more persistant.

[BrianD]

Thanks to all for keeping this thread in the proper tone.

[dc]

Originally posted by BrianD
Thanks to all for keeping this thread in the proper tone.

It's nice to know it can be done.

[Muttling]

Originally posted by BrianD
Thanks to all for keeping this thread in the proper tone.

Can I ring your skull with a 3lb shop hammer to check for the proper tone?

[carpetride]

So which state has the toughest meth laws? I believe Missouri and Arkansas are probably near the top. This past year a local Ag. pilot was arrested for distributing and using this stuff, when I saw his mugshot in the paper I didn't recognize him---much the same as the pics in the beginning of this thread. We've had quite few labs blow up here in the county but they keep on cooking.

[JR719]

A friend and I popped a guy who burned himself pretty bad. He decided to drain the either from the cans approx. 3 feet from his GAS water heater. Real smart guy.... Within a month, I got him again in the same house. He had a nice amount of finished product along with 2 HCL generators going using 2 liter bottles. He had enough stuff left to make a nice large amount. It was a good large lab. Inside the house was a "haze" with the fumes.
This stuff grabs you and does not let go. I don't know why anyone would even want to try the stuff. Your first time is the best "high" you will get from it. You will never get the same feeling after that. They continue using more and more to obtain the same "high" and cannot. It has been said one can have the best "sex" ever with it and that is one reason it is used. I for one will just take their word. People use too much of these drugs and it raises their internal temps so high, they cook from the inside out. After a nice overdose and several hours of death, their internal temps are still extremely high.
If you have ever heard of crazy naked people in others pools, ponds, or garden hoses.... they are trying to cool off from too much substance. Ok, that is mainly LSD as I recall but still sorta fits the mood.

[Flanders]

Here's an article about the anti-meth legislation in Oklahoma that was discussed earlier. Seems pretty interesting and successful if the results are accurate.

Anti-Meth Legislation Crops Up Across US

Legislation intended to help law enforcement crack down on methamphetamine production is being introduced in many US states. The Los Angeles Times reported on Jan. 10, 2005 ( "States Battling Meth May Put Controls On Cold Pills") that "Over-the-counter cold pills may be removed from store shelves across much of the Southwest and Midwest this year as officials struggle to crack down on methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant that can be brewed from decongestants and other common household items. At least 20 states are considering tight restrictions on access to Sudafed, NyQuil, Claritin-D, Tylenol Flu and hundreds of other cold, allergy and sinus remedies that contain pseudoephedrine. Details vary, but in many states only pharmacists or their assistants would be allowed to dispense the medicines."

The laws are essentially based on a piece of legislation passed in Oklahoma in 2004. The Oklahoman newspaper reported on Jan. 17, 2005 ( "Officials Praise Anti-Meth Law") that "More than 20 other states are considering restricting over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine sales, according to the National Association of State Legislatures. Oregon passed a similar law last year, citing Oklahoma's success. Kansas is debating a measure. Gov. Brad Henry has written to the governors of the other states, encouraging them to adopt similar laws. 'The case I made to them was simple: The more states that restrict pseudoephedrine sales, the more difficult it will be for methamphetamine producers and dealers to operate,' Henry said. 'I'm thrilled that so many states have responded and followed our lead. These laws will help curb the meth trade and save lives.'"

According to the Oklahoman, "A state law passed last year that restricts the sale of pseudoephedrine already has saved the state more than a million dollars, law enforcement officials say. John Duncan, chief agent with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, estimates one meth lab has a $350,000 impact on the state. 'That is a very conservative estimate,' Duncan said. 'There are a lot of unknown costs that we can't estimate such as the costs to families and schools. Health costs that stem from illnesses caused by the dangerous chemicals found at meth labs, meth use or the effect of meth on unborn children is probably huge. We just don't know how much it's really costing us.' Oklahoma's new law, which took effect in April, is credited for cutting the number of methamphetamine labs by 50 percent to 70 percent. The law restricts the sale of the tablet form of pseudoephedrine to pharmacies."

It should be pointed out that it is very difficult to measure the extent of an illegal activity such as methamphetamine production. Assertions of success by OK officials are based on arrests and lab busts, according to the Oklahoman: "Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward said the state has had 581 fewer meth lab busts since the measure was adopted. Meth lab busts in Tulsa decreased from 212 in November and December 2003 to 131 in November and December 2004. Oklahoma City had a similar decline, going from an average 14.5 lab busts a month to an average of five a month, Woodward said."

Indeed, even drug war zealots such as 'Drug Czar' John Walters are at least publicly skeptical of OK's claims of success: "John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said Oklahoma was not the only state to report a big drop in meth lab raids. A dozen others had "substantial declines" last year, he told the Associated Press. 'There is promise in ( tight controls ), and if states want to do it, they're free to do it,' Walters said. 'But we're trying to make sure we're not blinded by Oklahoma's results to the point where we say this is it, nothing else works.' Critics of the Oklahoma law say addicts still can buy meth imported from Mexico and southern California. 'It's true that the majority of meth in the United States doesn't come from these small labs,' Woodward said."

According to the Oklahoman, "'I would like to see all 50 states adopt similar statutes,' Henry said. 'I also intend to push the U.S. Congress to consider a federal law that would set the standard nationally. The meth epidemic is a national problem that must be addressed.'"

Gov. Henry may find a west-coast ally on Capitol Hill: Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA. The Oregonian reported on Jan. 24, 2005 ( "Cantwell Set To Unveil Meth-Fighting Measure") that "Today in Congress, Cantwell expects to introduce the Confronting Methamphetamine Act of 2005 to combat the problem. Cantwell, who met Friday with local law enforcement leaders, said the bill would authorize $100 million a year for the next two years and $200 million a year afterward through 2010 to help: Arrest and prosecute meth producers. Assist in child and family services. Hire and train officers."

[spamin76]

Originally posted by BrianD
Thanks for the pictures Joey. I can't imagine a bigger problem our country faces right now than meth.

Especially if you live in a trailer park.

Imagine being a fine upstanding trailer living citizen and then boom - your neighbors trailer explodes and takes some of the little you have along with it.

[joeychitwood]

In the county where I live and work (small, rural and one of the poorest in the state) Child Protective Services has over 180 children currently in foster homes after removing them from their parents' meth houses. The bill for their care is draining the county's Social Services budget.

Because this country's dentists won't see Medicaid or uninsured patients, I'm seeing horrendous dental problems daily in the ER due to meth use, even in people who have quit the drug successfully. The best I can do for them is pull the tooth if it is excessively loose, or give them antibiotics and pain pills.

[spamin76]

And since it's dental services(being performed by a medical doctor... gasp!!) and a self pay you will be lucky if you ever see a dime for it too.

[spamin76]

My sister is a social worker - so we talk about meth all the time - in Ohio if you own the house or are married to the person doing the meth production, you basically get nailed for being an accomplice.

Most of the meth cases in certain counties end up throwing both parents in jail, usually the mother less so, but still 7-11 years while the kid gets thrown into the system and maybe will be lucky enough to land in with some decent foster care.

It's very sad to think about it. Most of those children have no future.

[Flanders]

Originally posted by joeychitwood
Because this country's dentists won't see Medicaid or uninsured patients, I'm seeing horrendous dental problems daily... The best I can do for them is pull the tooth if it is excessively loose, or give them antibiotics and pain pills.

It must be a struggle sometimes to not remove the tooth using a closed fist.

[joeychitwood]

Originally posted by spamin76
And since it's dental services(being performed by a medical doctor... gasp!!) and a self pay you will be lucky if you ever see a dime for it too.

The hospital only collects 50 cents on each dollar it bills, and most of that is because of cost shifting to paying patients and insurance companies. About 60% of the patients in my ER don't ever pay us a dime.

[Muttling]

Originally posted by JR719

It has been said one can have the best "sex" ever with it and that is one reason it is used.

That's one of the bad traps of it. From what I understand, it really does pep up sex the first couple of times you use it. After a few times using it, you find that you can't get it up without meth and after a few months using meth it doesn't work at all.

[Flanders]

Originally posted by Muttling
From what I understand, it really does pep up sex the first couple of times you use it. After a few times using it, you find that you can't get it up without meth and after a few months using meth it doesn't work at all.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles Mutt.

[dendronepthya]

From what I understand, it really does pep up sex the first couple of times you use it.

So does love and affection, which only marginally messes up your face

[cadams]

Originally posted by salty toes
hilarious


I do not feel an ounce of sadness for anyone who chooses to do drugs......

I grew up around it, saw it around me EVERYWHERE, and finally began to hate everyone that is addicted to the crap the day one of them beat my mother to rob her of a few dollars


let them all die a slow miserable death.......

and for those of you who will say "you wouldn't say that if is was a close family member"

well I have a cousin whos been in and out of rehab about 5 times, You know what i say to the rest of my family "freak him"

everyone is exactly where they wanna be.

careful......judge not less ye be judged. we all have our vices... wrong is relative. But most "addict" specials on TV show people that regret the decisions they've made. I would like to thank those who have made such mistakes to act as an example for all of us. Way to take one for the team.

[jdav]

I was going to say something that I didn't thinlk was appropriate for this website, so I will leave it alone.........

I will say this though, i live in GA a little north of atlanta. I can't count on my fingers and toes the number of people who have destroyed there lives with meth.

About 3 years ago I lost ALL of my friends, most of them are still in prison.

don't do meth.

[shanersnyder]

Oh man that is brutal. Im quiting tomorrow.