METHAMPHETAMINE CONTROLLED HIS LIFE

Editor's Note: This is the third segment in a series of articles on
drug trends in the area and the impact of the disease of addiction.

MONMOUTH - Steven has battled various addictions his entire life, but
nothing compares to the stranglehold methamphetamine had on him.

Steven is a Warren County resident who agreed to talk about the
dangers of methamphetamine as long as the Review Atlas agreed to
protect his identity by not using his real name. Steven is his middle
name. Methamphetamine, better known as crystal meth or crank on the
streets, has become the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history. Most law
enforcement officials agree the current methamphetamine epidemic is
far worse than the crack cocaine craze of the 1980s.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that gives the user a euphoric high,
making them feel like they can do anything. It is a street drug that
many dealers have learned how to "cook" themselves, making it even
more dangerous.

The drug normally comes in a powder form. It can be smoked, snorted
or melted down and injected.

"When you have people making their own meth, you are never sure
exactly what they are putting in it," Steven said.

In addition to makeshift meth labs across the country, there are also
super meth labs scattered across the southwestern U.S., according to
officials with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, who claim 75 to 80
percent of the methamphetamine sold in the U.S. comes from the super labs.

Steven is one of the lucky few who sought help for his drug addiction
before being arrested or dieing from use of the drug. He knows most
meth users either wind up in jail, prison or a mortuary.

Before using meth Steven was not sure what all the hoopla was
regarding the drug, until he tried it at a party.

"It was not like any other drug I've ever tried," Steven explained.
"It made me feel so good. I was up for two days and two nights
without sleeping. You do feel like you can do just about anything."

The first concern Steven had regarding the drug was the way it made
him feel when it started to wear off.

"It takes you down just as fast as it takes you up," he added. "The
person who talked me into trying it told me I needed to sleep a few
hours and I would be okay."

Steven said he slept for more than 12 hours, but still felt drained
when he woke up.

"The first thing I wanted to do was some more meth, just enough to
pick me up a little," Steven said. "Those were famous final words. I
did some meth off and on for two weeks and I was hooked. All I could
think about was getting more, and when I did get some, I worried
about how long it would last me. It possessed me night and day."

Steven said even though he was a "hard core partier" at the time, he
was surprised at how quickly methamphetamine controlled his life.

"When you are an alcoholic or a cocaine addict, you have a monkey on
your back," Steven explained. "When you are a meth user, you have a
gorilla on your back - a big, mean gorilla."

Steven tried to kick the meth habit a couple of times, but could not.

"I would start to feel like I was going crazy or having a nervous
breakdown," Steven said. "The only thing that would chase all that
away was more meth. I had a decent job so money was not the issue at first."

However, Steven began to spend more money on meth because as his
addiction continued he would need to use more and more of the drug.
One month Steven used a portion of his rent money on meth, and was
evicted. He was able to find a cheap, small apartment, but Steven
could see the writing on the wall.

"I was behind on most of my bills," Steven added. "I lost more than
15 pounds in about six weeks without trying to lose weight. I started
blowing off work. The meth gave me tons of energy, I just did not
want to be at work."

With the help of a close friend, Steven checked into an inpatient
drug rehab facility. He tried to give up the drug on an outpatient
basis, but could not.

A month later Steven was "meth free." It has been nearly a year since
he last used the drug.

"I've been drug free period for almost a year," he stated. "I take it
one day at a time, but I'm sure I'll never use meth again. Now that I
know what it can do, it is the one drug I'm actually afraid of, and
always will be. I don't think about how good it made me feel. I think
about how it took over my life in a few weeks time."

Steven said once he has more clean time under his belt he would like
to talk to others about the dangers of methamphetamine.