METHAMPHETAMINE USER REGRETS USE OF BEFORE-AND-AFTER SHOTS

PEKIN, Ill. - Penny Wood's drug-weathered face helped cut a deal that kept
her out of prison, but the 40-year-old Pekin woman says she now faces stares
and ridicule instead.

Wood accepted a unique plea agreement in January that gave her probation in
exchange for the use of her photographs in a campaign to curb
methamphetamine use by showing the physical toll of the drug.

Now, she says, the startling before-and-after photos are causing humiliation
for her and her family and she wants prosecutors to stop distributing the
fliers.

"I've paid for my mistakes. I don't want my grandchildren to keep paying for
my mistakes," said Wood, who had faced up to 30 years in prison if she had
been convicted of unlawful criminal drug conspiracy.

Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz said Wednesday he is not
about to scrap the campaign, which he says is helping discourage meth use by
appealing to teenagers' concern over their appearance.

Wood's rapid aging is what first gave Umholtz the idea for the campaign when
he saw her relatively youthful 1998 booking photo next to one taken in 2002.

"Seeing them side by side, it was apparent to me that the photos showed the
impact of meth use better than I could ever describe in words," said
Umholtz, who also is pushing for tougher criminal penalties to battle the
rise in meth cases in central Illinois.

Wood agreed that the photos make a case against drugs. "If that picture
doesn't shock a child, I don't know what will," she said.

But Wood said she thought the program would be low-key, perhaps in local
drug treatment and prevention programs.

Umholtz said fliers are available to any agency that promotes drug
prevention, such as police, schools and the local Boys & Girls Club.

He added that the police photos are public record and could have been used
without Wood's consent. He said he had her sign the agreement to boost her
self-worth and aid her recovery over meth addiction.

"I thought it was important for her to agree so she would feel she is
providing a service to the community," he said.

Wood said an outpatient rehabilitation program has helped her kick a
longtime meth habit.