I just don't understand 'meth' users

In high school, there was an on-going joke about how those people who suddenly dropped a bunch of weight were probably on the "Greene County Diet".

Of course, we were referring to the frequent use of methamphetamine by our fellow Greene Countians.

At the time it just seemed like a big joke because, as teenagers, we didn't know anyone involved in the use of hard drugs, and definitely didn't understand the horrible things it did to their bodies.

Every time we have to write a story for the newspaper about someone busted for meth, or having precursors, I say the exact same thing.

"I just don't understand."

Then recently, I had to write a story about a woman whom I have known since my early teens.

Her parents lived across the street from my parents when I was growing up, and I would often babysit her kids.

She was gorgeous, always making jokes and seemed so cool and laid back.

She had two awesome kids I would watch on a regular basis, and her parents were two of the kindest people I had ever met.

Last week, she was found hiding from, what seemed to be, an invisible attacker. Officers found no trace of another person at the residence she was running from.

She also tested positive for methamphetamine.

I've seen her around in the past years, and she lost that beauty she had once emitted.

Again, I found myself saying, "I just don't understand."

Is real life that awful you have to submerge yourself into a life of drugs to the point you hallucinate someone trying to kill you?

I have friends that have dealt with traumas I could never even begin to fathom, but they always overcame the impossible tasks thrown at them without even considering the use of drugs.

Could these adults be facing peer pressure as well?

Even if that the case, it's no excuse. As a teenager and as an adult my closest friends and I have faced situations where "friends" have tried on numerous occasions to get us to try various forms of illegal substances.

I stood my ground, and explained why I said no. Once it reach the point they were badgering me about it, I just stopped hanging out with those people. Their "friendship" wasn't worth the paranoia, physical and emotional side effects.

The one excuse that gets me the most is, "It's what I grew up around."

If that were the case, you should know first hand this is not a life you want to live. If you watch your parents slowly deteriorate from drug abuse, then walk a different path!

Crystalmethaddiction.com outlines a few of the side effects of meth as: Rotting teeth, collapsed jaw, hallucinations causing frantic scratching of the face, severe weight loss and severely dried out skin.

Those are just the side effects people can see.

Meth is also associated with paranoia and psychosis. Then, there is the staying up for days on end, only to crash hard and sleep for several days.

Is feeling a "high" worth losing your job? Your family? Your sanity?

To me, the greatest feeling in the world is surrounding myself with people who love me. Friends, family and co-workers can guide you in the right direction if your internal GPS gets skewed.

Sabrina is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by email at swestfall@gcdailyworld.com or by telephone at 847-4487.