Justice by the Numbers
Opinion and Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Life or Meth Choices of the Young
"The first hit is always free, after that you pay with your life!"
An Open Letter to the Children, Teenagers and Young Adults of Chisago County
Seeing a Meth Head at a scrap yard is not unusual.
His face was gaunt and drawn, his malnourished body was a nauseating spectacle more reminiscent of a survivor of a Nazi Concentration Camp than a resident of this century.
This particular junkie was more fortunate than most, I supposed. He had a truck. A beat up old Ford used to haul his junk to market, earning enough money to support his $200 to $300 a day Meth addiction.
Today, he had a flat tire. His spare was the baldest of his five tires, but the Meth Head flashed a toothless smile at the Meth Head standing next to him and set about to change his tire, already knowing the windfall from the sale of today’s junk would buy more Meth, rather than repairing his old truck. Tomorrow, no doubt he would buy another used tire for five bucks, which would last another week or two.
Even from across the parking lot, I can see the lesions on his face and hands. Dark, puss filled sores caused by his unceasing attempts to remove the nonexistent Meth Bugs from his body.
His life has been reduced to a singular task. Feeding his undying need for an unnatural high.
Meth is the most addictive substance ever created by man. This man has been addicted from his first hit. The first hit is always free, after that you pay with your life.
Your body produces dopamine as a natural self reward. Dopamine provides that natural high felt after winning the big race, scoring that winning basket or hitting a home run. Sex is probably the most common occurring factor of dopamine release.
Meth creates an artificial dopamine release that cannot be recreated naturally. The high created from meth is short lasting, requiring more meth be ingested. Before long, natural dopamine release can no longer be achieved as meth has “burned out” the body’s natural dopamine production units.
I observe this Meth Head some more. I originally pegged him as 45 years old or so. His actions and movements, however reveal a young man of less than 30 years of age.
When did this young man give up his life for meth? Very possibly in High School, I suppose. And I wonder, could this be the fate of my grandchildren? In a short twenty years could my grandchildren, your children or you be changing a tire on a old, beat up Ford truck at a scrap yard in St. Paul, looking for your next fix.
Recovery from meth is difficult, to say the least. The success rate is only about 10%. Chances are, the junkie I am observing would sober and relapse 8 to 10 times before freeing himself from this crap.
And what is left after meth? The walking dead, a zombie unable to feel emotion, unable to experience a natural high, ever.
We all feel the lows in life from time to time. Without them, the natural highs would feel less high. But can you imagine a life of nothing, no highs or lows? This is the life of a “recovered” meth head.
The joy of sex which results from a loving long term monogamous relationship awaiting our young people is of indescribable pleasure, the incomparable natural high of life. The birth of children, their miraculous first steps are natural highs, never experienced by the meth addict.
Someday, a classmate, a friend or a complete stranger will offer you meth. I hope you will choose life over meth.
The world needs you, thanks for reading, Jon
An Open Letter to the Children, Teenagers and Young Adults of Chisago County
Seeing a Meth Head at a scrap yard is not unusual.
His face was gaunt and drawn, his malnourished body was a nauseating spectacle more reminiscent of a survivor of a Nazi Concentration Camp than a resident of this century.
This particular junkie was more fortunate than most, I supposed. He had a truck. A beat up old Ford used to haul his junk to market, earning enough money to support his $200 to $300 a day Meth addiction.
Today, he had a flat tire. His spare was the baldest of his five tires, but the Meth Head flashed a toothless smile at the Meth Head standing next to him and set about to change his tire, already knowing the windfall from the sale of today’s junk would buy more Meth, rather than repairing his old truck. Tomorrow, no doubt he would buy another used tire for five bucks, which would last another week or two.
Even from across the parking lot, I can see the lesions on his face and hands. Dark, puss filled sores caused by his unceasing attempts to remove the nonexistent Meth Bugs from his body.
His life has been reduced to a singular task. Feeding his undying need for an unnatural high.
Meth is the most addictive substance ever created by man. This man has been addicted from his first hit. The first hit is always free, after that you pay with your life.
Your body produces dopamine as a natural self reward. Dopamine provides that natural high felt after winning the big race, scoring that winning basket or hitting a home run. Sex is probably the most common occurring factor of dopamine release.
Meth creates an artificial dopamine release that cannot be recreated naturally. The high created from meth is short lasting, requiring more meth be ingested. Before long, natural dopamine release can no longer be achieved as meth has “burned out” the body’s natural dopamine production units.
I observe this Meth Head some more. I originally pegged him as 45 years old or so. His actions and movements, however reveal a young man of less than 30 years of age.
When did this young man give up his life for meth? Very possibly in High School, I suppose. And I wonder, could this be the fate of my grandchildren? In a short twenty years could my grandchildren, your children or you be changing a tire on a old, beat up Ford truck at a scrap yard in St. Paul, looking for your next fix.
Recovery from meth is difficult, to say the least. The success rate is only about 10%. Chances are, the junkie I am observing would sober and relapse 8 to 10 times before freeing himself from this crap.
And what is left after meth? The walking dead, a zombie unable to feel emotion, unable to experience a natural high, ever.
We all feel the lows in life from time to time. Without them, the natural highs would feel less high. But can you imagine a life of nothing, no highs or lows? This is the life of a “recovered” meth head.
The joy of sex which results from a loving long term monogamous relationship awaiting our young people is of indescribable pleasure, the incomparable natural high of life. The birth of children, their miraculous first steps are natural highs, never experienced by the meth addict.
Someday, a classmate, a friend or a complete stranger will offer you meth. I hope you will choose life over meth.
The world needs you, thanks for reading, Jon
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