Faces of Meth
I’ve gotten into a few discussions over my life with a couple of people who just didn’t agree with me that crystal meth was both heinously addictive and really, really nasty to your body.
Thusly, I present: Face of Meth. Before/after headshots.
NOTE: Safe for work, they’re all police photos, not grisly as such… but scary, yeah.
the meth epidemic was rebroadcast a few weeks ago.
the meth epidemic was rebroadcast a few weeks ago.
I agree with you.
Unfortunately the site is being ridiculously slow at the moment… ugh.
Yeah, I opened it in a new tab and then browsed elsewhere.
Yeah, I opened it in a new tab and then browsed elsewhere.
I agree with you.
Unfortunately the site is being ridiculously slow at the moment… ugh.
When are they going to add Lindsay Lohan?
Eeeew
Eeeew
When are they going to add Lindsay Lohan?
Eh. That’s a PDA site, and as such should be taken with giant shakers full of salt. I’m not saying that Meth is great or anything, I’ve known users of it and have had close friends describe for me the insects-under-the-skin hallucinations that come from meth withdrawal. I have no doubt that meth is bad for you physically, however the Partnership for a Drugfree America is not to be trusted to tell us the truth of the matter.
This is a company that is a marketing firm employed by the administration to promote drug policy. This is not a public service announcement for your own health, this is a commercial for the war on drugs.
The before and after pics here are not just before and after drug use. They are before and after being run through the meat grinder that is the justice system. At least some of these effects seen in these pictures can be attributed to the fact that meth is the current ‘bad guy’ drug and the users have been treated as criminals instead of as people with a serious health problem.
This website is an attempt to justify programs that result in, for example, an undercover drug bust going down last Tuesday 4 blocks from where I sleep and work, at which the ‘bustee’ attempted to flee and was shot 6 times, including at least once in the back, and killed.
Sorry man, you struck a very close nerve there. Especially with the events of this week.
I didn’t mean to strike a nerve, and I generally don’t agree with the PDA’s tactics or motivation, and I certainly don’t agree with the War on Drugs as our government has gone about it for the last couple of decades.
However, the premature aging, rotting teeth, weight loss, and sores on the face are common short-term effects that you can find on any detailed site referring to meth.
The thing is, there are all sorts of legal substances that have these types of effects as well as worse ones, but none of those get featured on a PDA spot. The main reason these people look so awful in these pictures is because they are MUG SHOTS. In another context, they could be mistaken for cancer patients, and would garner sympathy and people would want to help them.
PDA has for a long time taken money, huge amounts of money, from the tobacco alcohol and pharmaceutical industries. All three of which have a vested interest in demonizing drugs of prohibition and keeping the spotlight off the bad effects of their own industries. I guess I’m just disappointed that you would link to them.
The people in these pictures certainly do garner my sympathy, and I know they’re mug shots, but I don’t sit here thinking that these people are ‘in jail where they belong’.
“The main reason these people look so awful in these pictures is because they are MUG SHOTS.”
I don’t believe that’s true, for multiple reasons. Foremost, these are timeline pictures – one picture before, one picture after. I think it’s reasonable to assume that, being from a precinct specified on the page, the lighting is identical – not flattering in either case, but certainly comparative.
I have this argument with ben about cigarettes. Certainly, there are many substances, including legal ones, that have worse effects on a human being, including (potentially) the chlorine in our water supply. This is a TRUE statement, but it does not in any way negate the truth of what meth has the potential of doing to a person.
I’ve never seen a person riding hard on heroin or ‘addicted to painkillers’ (a statement I take objection to, considering many people have chronic pain), but I have seen someone tweak on meth. So, that’s what I comment on. That doesn’t mean I don’t consider other things as dangerous, and it doesn’t mean that I’m looking down on those who do meth.
I’m not linking to a photo page for Partnership because I saw an ad and was converted by their deceptive ways. I’m linking it because it came up in conversation, and it’s quite true that meth sucks a person’s life away and the photos seem true-to-life to me.
I’m idealistic, but I don’t protest by boycotting, and while I consider the source, something that seems true to me is still true when spoken by someone I don’t like.
The thing is, I don’t believe the ‘truth’ as presented here by the PDA. Sure, these are before and after pics, but I think it is disingenuous to say that these are before and after pictures of the effects of meth in a vacuum. These are before and after pictures of prolonged meth use, exposure to whatever horrible conditions these people lived in to cause them to turn to something like meth, being incarcerated multiple times, probably abused by police, neglected by family and friends, malnutrition etc etc. I noticed that some of the before pictures were already pretty awful.
I think what the PDA is doing is unhelpful, and will have the same effects on drug use as any of their previous ad campaigns which is to say none at all.
Anyway. I suspect we pretty much agree on most points here, but the PDA pretty much always makes me angry.
Also, it doesn’t matter why you link to them, it still boosts their google rank.
The thing is, I don’t believe the ‘truth’ as presented here by the PDA. Sure, these are before and after pics, but I think it is disingenuous to say that these are before and after pictures of the effects of meth in a vacuum. These are before and after pictures of prolonged meth use, exposure to whatever horrible conditions these people lived in to cause them to turn to something like meth, being incarcerated multiple times, probably abused by police, neglected by family and friends, malnutrition etc etc. I noticed that some of the before pictures were already pretty awful.
I think what the PDA is doing is unhelpful, and will have the same effects on drug use as any of their previous ad campaigns which is to say none at all.
Anyway. I suspect we pretty much agree on most points here, but the PDA pretty much always makes me angry.
Also, it doesn’t matter why you link to them, it still boosts their google rank.
The people in these pictures certainly do garner my sympathy, and I know they’re mug shots, but I don’t sit here thinking that these people are ‘in jail where they belong’.
“The main reason these people look so awful in these pictures is because they are MUG SHOTS.”
I don’t believe that’s true, for multiple reasons. Foremost, these are timeline pictures – one picture before, one picture after. I think it’s reasonable to assume that, being from a precinct specified on the page, the lighting is identical – not flattering in either case, but certainly comparative.
I have this argument with ben about cigarettes. Certainly, there are many substances, including legal ones, that have worse effects on a human being, including (potentially) the chlorine in our water supply. This is a TRUE statement, but it does not in any way negate the truth of what meth has the potential of doing to a person.
I’ve never seen a person riding hard on heroin or ‘addicted to painkillers’ (a statement I take objection to, considering many people have chronic pain), but I have seen someone tweak on meth. So, that’s what I comment on. That doesn’t mean I don’t consider other things as dangerous, and it doesn’t mean that I’m looking down on those who do meth.
I’m not linking to a photo page for Partnership because I saw an ad and was converted by their deceptive ways. I’m linking it because it came up in conversation, and it’s quite true that meth sucks a person’s life away and the photos seem true-to-life to me.
I’m idealistic, but I don’t protest by boycotting, and while I consider the source, something that seems true to me is still true when spoken by someone I don’t like.
The thing is, there are all sorts of legal substances that have these types of effects as well as worse ones, but none of those get featured on a PDA spot. The main reason these people look so awful in these pictures is because they are MUG SHOTS. In another context, they could be mistaken for cancer patients, and would garner sympathy and people would want to help them.
PDA has for a long time taken money, huge amounts of money, from the tobacco alcohol and pharmaceutical industries. All three of which have a vested interest in demonizing drugs of prohibition and keeping the spotlight off the bad effects of their own industries. I guess I’m just disappointed that you would link to them.
I didn’t mean to strike a nerve, and I generally don’t agree with the PDA’s tactics or motivation, and I certainly don’t agree with the War on Drugs as our government has gone about it for the last couple of decades.
However, the premature aging, rotting teeth, weight loss, and sores on the face are common short-term effects that you can find on any detailed site referring to meth.
Eh. That’s a PDA site, and as such should be taken with giant shakers full of salt. I’m not saying that Meth is great or anything, I’ve known users of it and have had close friends describe for me the insects-under-the-skin hallucinations that come from meth withdrawal. I have no doubt that meth is bad for you physically, however the Partnership for a Drugfree America is not to be trusted to tell us the truth of the matter.
This is a company that is a marketing firm employed by the administration to promote drug policy. This is not a public service announcement for your own health, this is a commercial for the war on drugs.
The before and after pics here are not just before and after drug use. They are before and after being run through the meat grinder that is the justice system. At least some of these effects seen in these pictures can be attributed to the fact that meth is the current ‘bad guy’ drug and the users have been treated as criminals instead of as people with a serious health problem.
This website is an attempt to justify programs that result in, for example, an undercover drug bust going down last Tuesday 4 blocks from where I sleep and work, at which the ‘bustee’ attempted to flee and was shot 6 times, including at least once in the back, and killed.
Sorry man, you struck a very close nerve there. Especially with the events of this week.
Even grosser, google ‘meth mouth’.
Nuh uh! I’m not clickin’, and I’d caution anyone else! Eeeeew
Nuh uh! I’m not clickin’, and I’d caution anyone else! Eeeeew
Just so we’re clear here:
According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth “is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching.”
Which really could hold true for a number of substances.
Just so we’re clear here:
According to the American Dental Association, meth mouth “is probably caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in xerostomia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding and clenching.”
Which really could hold true for a number of substances.
Even grosser, google ‘meth mouth’.
Tell them that you’ll act as the control group, and they can go start smoking meth, or crack, or whatever it is they’re on. In a year, compare where they are compared to you. :-P
Tell them that you’ll act as the control group, and they can go start smoking meth, or crack, or whatever it is they’re on. In a year, compare where they are compared to you. :-P
oddly enough, most of the pictures seem to be a surreal improvement!
Meth is the world’s way of saying “stay away” in nice, big letters.
oddly enough, most of the pictures seem to be a surreal improvement!
Meth is the world’s way of saying “stay away” in nice, big letters.
eek
i have a really close friend who was a meth user for almost 2 years. she and her boyfriend both got hooked on it and their relationship and health were almost completely destroyed. she was always super skinny so i didn’t ever notice a change in weight, but one thing that really got fucked up in her was some insane nerve damage…like somehow nerves and synapses got crossed over, so she’d feel things in out of whack ways. Like she’d put her right foot into a warm bath and feel fine, then go to put her left foot in and it’d feel like it was being scalded. and then her whole leg became insanely swoolen and her toenails fell off and her whole bottom half of her left leg turned purple. wow, i’m rambling. anyway the current chapter is she’s been meth-free for about six months and her leg is back to normal, she had to undergo intense treatment to get it fixed…and she still has her job…although her savings account is totally blown and she’s now about 4 months pregnant. but, anyway. She’s in therapy, and with lots of luck and love, she’ll stay off the crystals and raise a happy, healthy kid! the end.
Re: eek
also, i clicked on meth mouth just as i was swallowing a nice steamy sip of chai and i think i will forever associate the flavor with the gruesome pictures i just saw. eek and ewwww.
Re: eek
See, no clicky!
Thanks for posting your story, by the way. *hugs*
Re: eek
See, no clicky!
Thanks for posting your story, by the way. *hugs*
Re: eek
also, i clicked on meth mouth just as i was swallowing a nice steamy sip of chai and i think i will forever associate the flavor with the gruesome pictures i just saw. eek and ewwww.
eek
i have a really close friend who was a meth user for almost 2 years. she and her boyfriend both got hooked on it and their relationship and health were almost completely destroyed. she was always super skinny so i didn’t ever notice a change in weight, but one thing that really got fucked up in her was some insane nerve damage…like somehow nerves and synapses got crossed over, so she’d feel things in out of whack ways. Like she’d put her right foot into a warm bath and feel fine, then go to put her left foot in and it’d feel like it was being scalded. and then her whole leg became insanely swoolen and her toenails fell off and her whole bottom half of her left leg turned purple. wow, i’m rambling. anyway the current chapter is she’s been meth-free for about six months and her leg is back to normal, she had to undergo intense treatment to get it fixed…and she still has her job…although her savings account is totally blown and she’s now about 4 months pregnant. but, anyway. She’s in therapy, and with lots of luck and love, she’ll stay off the crystals and raise a happy, healthy kid! the end.
Most people wouldn’t believe that I used it for a year or so, then just walked away. For some reason, it didn’t grab hold. I know I’m the anomaly, not the typical person. But throughout that year, I was in bad shape. I got shingles. I got chronic ear infections. And my sister said, “You’ve been using crank, haven’t you?” (Heck, I’d used hers.) I admitted it, asked how she knew. She said, “You’ve been a real bitch these days.”
Wow, yeah, I wouldn’t believe it if you hadn’t said so. Thank you for sharing; it’s a strange feeling, wanting to laugh at the end there.
I have a friend whose first H was done by her father, and I find the family thing (regarding drugs) so amazing. Perhaps that just comes from not having siblings during my Crazy Days, and having been fairly deeply separate, emotionally, from my family.
Wow, yeah, I wouldn’t believe it if you hadn’t said so. Thank you for sharing; it’s a strange feeling, wanting to laugh at the end there.
I have a friend whose first H was done by her father, and I find the family thing (regarding drugs) so amazing. Perhaps that just comes from not having siblings during my Crazy Days, and having been fairly deeply separate, emotionally, from my family.
Most people wouldn’t believe that I used it for a year or so, then just walked away. For some reason, it didn’t grab hold. I know I’m the anomaly, not the typical person. But throughout that year, I was in bad shape. I got shingles. I got chronic ear infections. And my sister said, “You’ve been using crank, haven’t you?” (Heck, I’d used hers.) I admitted it, asked how she knew. She said, “You’ve been a real bitch these days.”