RECOVERING METH ADDICT RECOUNTS 10-YEAR JOURNEY OF METH USE

Eric Stoker still grinds his teeth.

After 10 years of heavy crystal meth use, the 28-year-old North
Louisiana native has V-shaped teeth from the constant grinding. It is
just one of the many lingering effects Stoker said he feels as he
recovers from his addiction at Teen Challenge in New Orleans.

Like most people who become addicted to crystal meth, Stoker started
the drug innocently enough. His first time was at age 18. After a
night of hard drinking, Stoker knew he wouldn't be able to get to
work in the morning, so he did some meth to help him stay awake.

"I used meth to spruce me up and it became my drug of choice instead
of alcohol," Stoker said.

As a truck driver, Stoker found the powerful upper a good way to stay
awake during long nights on the road. One long night would lead to
many long nights, and Stoker found himself sometimes staying awake
for weeks on end.

Soon, the addiction took control of his life. However, His wife and
2-year-old daughter and serving a little jail time finally inspired
him to get help, he said.

On his last trip to jail, he was incarcerated for four months. That's
when he decided he'd had enough and had realized the impact the drug
was having on his family.

"When I realized that my little girl will be 2 years old soon and I
didn't want to lose my family or my wife, and that no matter how many
times I said I was going to quit, I didn't, that's when I decided to
check into Teen Challenge, which is a year-long program," he said.

Stoker said he hopes he can be a testimony for people one day.

"I'm trying to achieve, and I have been always trying to feel God,
but he's been there since day one," Stoker said.

The 10-year journey through addiction into recovery wasn't an easy
one, and Stoker knows he still has a long way to go.

"I lost weight, and I have gritted and ground my teeth so much that I
cut V shapes into my teeth," he said. "They're extremely sharp and I
still suffer from those side effects. Whenever I concentrate on
something really hard, I grind my teeth."

It was the weight loss that tipped Stoker's family off to his problems.

"My family knew I was on drugs. I didn't use drugs in front of them,
but they knew because of my weight loss," he said. "When you're on
crystal meth, you don't sleep much because it's a very strong upper.
I would stay up for a week or two weeks at one point and never sleep."

However, the high doesn't last.

"Whenever you run out, you do what you can to stay awake, but you
just don't do it with as much zeal as when you're on the drug," he said.

That feeling is what keeps users going back for more.

Stoker said he would take the drug several times a day.

"It depends on how good the meth was," he said. "Sometimes, I would
take the drug four or five times a day. If it wasn't very good, eight
to 10 times a day."

As for getting the drug, that was rarely a problem in his small North
Louisiana town, which he preferred not to disclose.

"It was very easy for me to get the drug. My access may have been
easier than others, but this drug is as rampant as crack," he said.
"It has become very big in the younger groups and with some older people."

According to Stoker, the main problem with the meth epidemic is the
fact that anyone can go to just about any store and make the drug on
their own with just a little knowledge and a computer. That's why
it's becoming so widespread.

"It's actually making the price of out-of-town drugs cheaper because
people can make it, so the out-of-towners are cutting their rates so
people don't beat them at there own prices," he said.

Now, Stoker is simply focused on recovering and making a new life for
his family.

While he can Teen Challenge at any time, he said he has every
intention of completing the program and one day helping others find a
way out of their addictions before it's too late.

"The only way you can end up is in jail or dead," he said. "Stay away
from this drug. There's nothing good about it. I don't know what took
me so long to figure it out, but I'm glad I'm here now. That drug is
dangerous, and hopefully, I'll have a strong testimony when I get out
of here to change lives."