METH'S EFFECT ON THE BODY

Before and after photos of addicts, provided by the Multnomah County
Sheriff's Office of Portland, Ore., show the long-term physical toll
of a methamphetamine addiction.

Often, addicts exhibit welts and lesions due to picking, itching (a
feeling that bugs are crawling on their skin), or other self-inflicted
wounds. They may also acquire uncontrollable body and facial twitches,
diarrhea, nausea, and experience visual and auditory
hallucinations.

Those who snort meth longterm develop holes in their nasal septum.
Those who smoke it can get chronic obstructive lung disease.

Users stay up for days at a time, acquiring a gaunt, hollow-eyed look
due to weight loss, malnutrition, and the neglect of personal hygiene.

But primarily, methamphetamine does a number on the brain. Prolonged
meth use leads to paranoia, hyperactivity, irritability, aggression
and severe depression/suicidal tendencies.