Talk to Your Kids About Meth

Methamphetamine (or meth) has reached all corners of the country, moving from rural areas to cities and suburbs. Television stories have reported on mobile meth labs parked across the street from schools. You may live in a "nice" neighborhood, but there may be meth labs in your neghborhood.

Your kids are the pusher's target. While some kids know about the dangers of meth, others don't know what it can do to their bodies. If you haven't talked to your kids about meth do it today. Even if you're talked to them, share these facts with your kids and grandkids.

* Meth is made from toxic stuff: paint solvent, engine starter, gasoline additive, brake cleaner, cement cleaner, drain cleaner, battery chemicals, to name a few.

* One-time meth use may cause instant addiction, according to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

* Meth causes permanent damage to the blood vessels in the brain. In other words, it makes you stupid.

* The chemicals in meth rot teeth and turn them into black stubs, a condition called "meth mouth." Eventually your teeth fall out.

* Meth causes a dangerous surge in blood pressure and heart rate.

* Meth use also causes dangerously high fever (as high as 110 degrees) and may lead to convulsions.

* Long-term meth use can lead to stroke.

* Meth makes you so jittery you can't sleep. Soon you're tired all the time, not a good match for learning or sports.

* Chronic meth use makes you anxious, depressed, and paranoid.

* Long-term meth use can cause permanent psychological damage.

* Chronic users think "crank bugs" are crawling under their skin, so they pick at their skin and scratch constantly, causing ugly red sores.

* Meth users smell like cat urine.

* Long-term use causes extreme anorexia and makes you look like a walking skeleton.

* Meth makes you look really old really fast.

Because meth is made with toxic chemicals, illegal labs can blow up without warning. Just being near a meth lab is dangerous. If you come across one, do not touch anything, leave as fast as you can, and call 911.

Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson.