METH EFFECTS:
"I used to get violent when I was on Meth, especially when I was coming down. I would hurt my family. I would steal from them. I would lie to them."
Bernadette, Butte - Age 15
THE FAMILY
Meth never ruins just one life at a time. Meth's power over users is so potent that they will lie, steal, even resort to prostitution and physical violence in order to obtain it.
Many users reject anything and anyone who stands in their way of getting Meth, isolating themselves from parents, family, and friends.
Children of Meth-addicted parents are often left to fend for themselves, causing intense emotional harm that can lay the foundation for behavioral problems, depression, and future substance abuse.
Children of users are frequently exposed to many hazards such as second-hand smoke, risk of accidental drug ingestion, and HIV exposure from needle usage. Other potential hazards include the presence of weapons, possibility of violence, and sexual or physical abuse.
Last year, over half of the children in protective custody in Montana were there because of Meth-related abuse or neglect.
In the end, many families end up torn apart, with parents in prison, children removed from the home, and lifetimes of physical and emotional damage.